Our God Is a Patient God
OPENING PRAYER:
Dear Lord, please help to keep my eyes on you as I move through this broken world. Please continue to have patience with me each time I lose my focus. You provide all the clarity I need.
READ:
“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners – of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.” 1 Timothy 1:15-16 (NIV)
REFLECT:
In Paul’s letter to Timothy he identifies himself as “the worst of sinners.” I’m not sure if a conversion chart exists to quantify who the worst sinner is or has been, but if you’re like me, you’ve had moments where you were sure you were near the top (or the bottom?). At any rate, we have all fallen short of the glory of God. The only difference between any of us is the specific sin(s) and frequency of our sinning. Thank God, literally, that he sent Jesus to wash our sins away.
As if it wasn’t great enough that Jesus died the death we deserve to give us the opportunity for eternal life, all we have to do to receive eternal life is to believe in him and his power to save us. Also, (yes, with Jesus it just keeps getting better) he never set a timer to give us a deadline to accept his free gift of eternal life. He will wait on us to our dying breath if that’s how long it takes. His love and patience for us is never-ending.
APPLY:
Are you afraid to give your life to Jesus because you can’t imagine him accepting you? Have you accepted Jesus but continue to sin and fear he will reject you? If so, rest comfortably in the knowledge that Jesus will accept you no matter what, and he will wait for you however long it takes to come to him. Sit quietly and meditate on that truth and rejoice at the freedom it brings.
CLOSING PRAYER:
God of the waiting,
teach us to embody patience,
never rushing into action without your signal.
You have created a world steeped in patience;
nature follows its rhythms without haste.
May we learn from this design,
stopping to pause and wonder and praise.
When our hearts are weary from waiting,
remind us that we do not wait alone for Christ dwells in us.
Amen.
WORSHIP: