BBD 09.29.09 Be Patient and Perfect
Posted by: wrather <wrather@...>
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The Burning Bush Devotional
(A Devotional Classic from 2002)
Welcome to the 1038 new subscribers since January 1, 2009
09.29.09
Be Patient and Perfect
But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and
complete, lacking nothing. - James 1:4.
Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the
farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it
until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish
your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble against
one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing
at the door! My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the
Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. Indeed we count them blessed
who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and see the end
intended by the Lord - that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful. -
James 5:7-11.
Jeff Adams has performed an amazing feat of endurance. If you are the
average person, climbing even one hundred steps is more than you want to do.
Adams who is a Canadian has climbed the 1,776 stairs in Toronto's CN Tower.
He is also a paralympian and climbed the stairs in a wheelchair. It took
five hours but Jeff believes it was worth the effort as he was raising money
for a program of the Canadian Foundation for Physically Disabled Persons.
Jeff started this program when he was asked to leave a restaurant because
they considered his wheelchair to be a fire hazard. Adams says, "It's so
outside the box and also something you never thought was possible in a
wheelchair. We decided to respond to the negative situation in a positive
way. The best part of living is standing up to a barrier." It's obvious that
Jeff Adams has such amazing endurance because of his amazing attitude.
The reward of patience is maturity and strength. With the maturity and
strength comes the ability to endure whatever barriers, hindrances, trials,
and tribulations may confront us during our journey through the years on
Planet Earth. The word "perfect" in James 1:4 means becoming strong, mature
and having everything that we need to withstand the problems and challenges
of life.
As we are living this life we must look beyond the problems and challenges
to the coming of our Lord. We look beyond the present and see our goal, our
reward. Jeff Adams could endure the five hours of grueling physical
challenge because he had a goal and knew it was a worthy goal. We too have a
goal to have our Lord say "Well done good and faithful servant (Matthew 25 -
Parable of the Talents)." Our Master and Lord is coming for us, and we will
see Him one great and glorious day face to face.
We who know the Lord as Savior have been given unmerited mercy. In 2
Corinthians 4:1 the apostle Paul writes, "Therefore, since we have this
ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart." I believe Paul
could see the adversities, the challenges of life much as Jeff Adams does. I
think Paul could say, "The best part of living is standing up to a barrier."
Or, Paul might put it this way; "The best part of living is overcoming the
challenges, hardships, adversities and all the rest through Christ Jesus and
bringing glory to Him." Paul did write in 2 Corinthians 4:16-17, "Therefore
we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the
inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is
but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight
of glory."
Copyright © 2002 - 2009. Ed Wrather. Permission is given for use of the
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Prayer Requests: Malachi Struthers that we have been praying for passed away
early Saturday morning. He was a nine and a half year old boy who fought
cancer (neuroblastoma) for five years, and was our foster son for a brief
time. Malachi always began his prayers by saying, "Thank you Father for my
life." The service for Malachi today was very nice, and very sad but we know
that he is with the Lord and is no longer hurting. May the Lord bring good
out of this as His Word promises! Thank you again for all of your prayers
and support!! Please continue to pray for Cody, and Mica who are young boys
with cancer. Many prayer needs are posted at the Burning Bush website on the
Prayer Request page. You can also post your prayer requests there and they
will be forwarded to the Burning Bush Prayer Group (Of course, I am always
in need of prayer - please pray for me.).
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