Patient Endurance

Word of warning to husbands - if you ever use a sander in your houses, particularly in the master bedroom, sweep up the dust immediately - cleaning fairies do not exist, and Hazel the maid is dead!

One rainy Saturday my dear husband decided to use a sander on our bedroom door because it had been sticking. Then, he happily sanded (yes, he loves his power tools!) a sliding closet door that needed to be prepared before it could be painted. I was in another part of the house, and occasionally I heard a strange vibrating noise, but I did not investigate. Actually, I walked into our bedroom at 10 P.M. to get my robe, and suddenly my eyes landed on the one-half inch thick dust on each one of the dressers! I could not believe my eyes. I was stunned! I started dusting and sweeping, and halfway through my cleaning frenzy, my husband, rather foolishly, came and inquired about what I was doing . . . he wanted to go to bed . . . Let's just say, his bedtime was delayed, and by God's grace, he lived!

You might surmise from my reaction that I am not patient. I have tried counting to ten, but I do not have one patient bone or fiber in my body. I literally expect tasks to be done right this red hot minute (or yesterday is even better), so I fully expected him to sweep up his dust and mess immediately after he finished the sanding part of his project. I absolutely did not want to enter the bedroom at 10 P.M. to find a disgusting mess.

I am ashamed to confess that I went to bed in a huff.

The next day as I was doing my devotions, I discovered that the word "perseverance" means "patient endurance." I never thought of putting the word "patient" with "endurance". Not only are we, as sojourners or foreigners on this earth, supposed to plod ahead with our eyes on the end goal (JESUS), but we are to be patient about our trials. Yipes! If I was frustrated and huffy about a little dust, how then might I react when a true trial pops up?

I did not like how squirmy I felt as I read 2 Peter 1:3-4. God wants to empower me to make it to the finish line. He wants me to persevere, and that means I should be longsuffering, forbearing, and graciously indulgent. If I cannot endure these minor bumps with grace and mercy, how on earth am I going to face severe challenges?

"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires."

My behavior was just plain evil. I was called by the One, who is full of mercy, grace, and goodness to act similarly, and I failed miserably. I did not need to be a doormat, but I certainly did not need to go to sleep in a total huff over such a teeny, tiny, inconsequential inconvenience.

Yuk! I was acting immaturely, just like a child stomping her foot in a temper tantrum. I did not want to be patient or kind, and I wanted the muss and fuss gone immediately. I am so glad God does not think or act as I do, or I would still be the same person I was before salvation, or worse, yet, I would still be lost.

I truly love the reminder in 2 Peter 1:3-4 that my success in making it to the finish line has to do with God's empowerment, not my own. My calling is not by my glory or goodness, but by His, so I know my sanctification (my transformation process) will come to fruition!

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge (not head knowledge, but knowing Him intimately) of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. Through these He has given me His very great and precious promises, so that through them I may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

James 1:4 says, "Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

James went so far as to tell us to consider trials a joy! My whiny tantrum over dust certainly was not exhibiting patient endurance, much less joy! When I was failing miserably to demonstrate God's mercy and grace, I should have turned to my heavenly Father, who wants to teach me and empower me, and I should have asked for His help and enabling. He never seems to give us instructions without giving us the means to be victorious!

"With man [and with woman too] this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26

If I learn to have victory over these small mini-trials with God's help, I should be more prepared to face bigger ones!

Dear Heavenly Father,

Help me find my staying power that I know is buried in me. Help me face these small trivial circumstances with patient endurance, so I might be mature and complete enough to persevere with resolution and resignation when bigger hurdles arise. Don't let me trip over a half inch of dust! Help me turn my childish tantrums into spunky resolve to plod ahead, so you might receive all of the praise, honor, and glory you deserve from me! Amen!

Numb?

When my daughter was a toddler and became confident walking on her own, she moved at about 90 miles per hour. I tried to move equally fast to intercept her approaches to danger, but I was not always successful. Her racing ahead caused bumps, bruises, and bangs, so she became quite attached to her pink booboo bunny because its icy coolness numbed her aches and pains.

Now that my body aches from rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia, I have discovered that strategically placed ice packs numb some pain significantly. The ice tricks my brain, and my sensory receptors are desensitized and do not register all of the sore spots.

Unfortunately, I have also discovered that the world's teachings deaden my brain from registering all of God's truths. I become desensitized to minor sins, and suddenly I begin accepting the world's blatant sins in an attitude of tolerance. This cannot be pleasing to my perfect, holy Lord.

I see my generation and my daughter's generation obsessing over materialistic pursuits. I see family and friends seeking financial success and career apexes at the detriment of others. Beautiful young women, dissatisfied with how God created them, schedule extensive surgeries and Botox injections because their faces and bodies do not look like the most popular models and celebrities.

I see friends involving themselves in lascivious behaviors, trying to alleviate stress or emotional and physical pains with alcohol, medications, illegal substances, pornography, and inappropriate liaisons. My heart aches when I see them buying into the world's temporary ways.

These ways are intriguing, shrewd, and entertaining. Popular standards and liberal morals slowly seep into our lives, and suddenly we are not labeling sin according to God's plumb line. Unless we intentionally flood our minds and our lives with God's word and His character, we will find ourselves apathetic to sins, such as greed, envy, covetousness, lust, meddling, and gossiping, just to name a few.

Peter clearly tell us to be nonconformists, living as strangers here on this earth, not as numb participants in an empty way of life:

"Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy.'" 1 Peter 1:13-16

"Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear. For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through Him you believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and glorified Him, and so your faith and hope are in God." 1 Peter 1:17-21

"Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us." 1 Peter 2:11-12

"Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God." 1 Peter 2:16

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for the clear direction you have supplied for us. You do not want us to be followers and lovers of the pagan way of life - full of debauchery, lust, greed, and idolatry. You have called us out of numbness, and you want us to protect ourselves and our children from becoming desensitized to the sinful ways of this world. Help me, Lord, to enjoy your creation, enjoy your people, yet not become entrenched in a life you did not intend for me. Help me to quickly become aware of areas in my life that are not glorifying to you. I pray that you will help me work out my salvation, so I might be blameless when you come again. Amen.

God Gives the Best Benefits

When a friend or family member finally lands a job in our current economic climate, after celebrating, one of our first questions is, "What benefits are you getting?"

Usually, the new employee's answer is detailed and complete. We have come to expect perquisites from our employers along with our regular salaries, such as pension plans, vacation pay, holiday pay, sick pay, maternity and paternity leaves, death benefits, and insurance. Since these benefits are advantageous to us and to our families, we find out exactly what we are being given.

Why then do we not ask our Christian friends and family, "What benefits has God bestowed on you?" And, if we did ask, how would they answer?

Psalm 103 specifically tells us "forget not all His benefits." Our Lord wants each and every one of us to fully know, to remember, and to discuss the advantages, provisions, and benevolences our precious LORD has bestowed upon us as His children. He wants us to inscribe His benefits on our hearts. We must remember!

If we intentionally choose to remember and talk about all that God has done for us, we would live encouraged, edified, positive, and peaceful existences every single day. We would be eager to praise Him. We would give Him the honor and glory He so rightly deserves!

Read the following aloud and slowly. Meditate on David's words.

Praise the LORD, O my soul;
all my inmost being, praise His holy name.
Praise the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all His benefits-
who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
The LORD works righteousness
and justice for all the oppressed.
He made known His ways to Moses,
His deeds to the people of Israel:
The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.
He will not always accuse,
nor will He harbor His anger forever;
He does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is His love for those who fear Him;
as far as the east is from the west,
so far has He removed our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion on His children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him;
for He knows how we are formed,
He remembers that we are dust.
As for man, his days are like grass,
he flourishes like a flower of the field;
the wind blows over it and it is gone,
and its place remembers it no more.
But from everlasting to everlasting
the LORD's love is with those who fear Him,
and His righteousness with their children's children-
with those who keep His covenant
and remember to obey His precepts.
The LORD has established His throne in heaven,
and His kingdom rules over all.
Praise the LORD, you His angels,
you mighty ones who do His bidding,
who obey His word.
Praise the LORD, all His heavenly hosts,
you His servants who do His will.
Praise the LORD, all His works
everywhere in His dominion.
Praise the LORD, O my soul.
Psalm 103

Then, make a list similar to the one I have placed here, so you might meditate upon just some of our eternal benefits:

• The Lord's name is holy and worthy of my praise!
• Because of Christ's death on the cross, His resurrection, and ascension, all of my sins are forgiven, and that means past, present, and future sins.
• He heals us - whether He heals us on this earth or takes us home to be with Him - we know He heals us perfectly.
• While I was His enemy, He saved me from the pit of hell.
• He bestowed His mercies, infinite grace, ultimate love, and compassion on me at the time of my salvation, and He continues to bless me abundantly every single day.
• He satisfies my needs according to His will, and His choices for me are exactly what I need, when I need them.
• If I live my life joyfully and peacefully in His will in all my circumstances, my body, mind, heart, and soul are renewed or rejuvenated on a daily basis.
• He is completely and perfectly just! No one can corrupt our Lord's decisions or His plan. He will deal with all situations and all people one day - we will each give an accounting of our lives. We can trust that He will mete out rewards equitably.
• He is not secretive. He wants us to know Him, just as He made His ways known to Moses and His deeds to Israel, His Word divulges who He is to us now.
• He is long-suffering and merciful. He is slow to anger, and His love continues to overflow.
• His love is so encompassing that while we were His worst enemies, He did not treat us as our sins deserve. All of us failed, and the wages of our sin was death, yet instead of sending us directly to hell, He sent His beloved, precious Son to be our sin. Jesus voluntarily accepted His Father's mission; He died the death we deserved. He became our ransom - He bought our freedom, our salvation, with His life. We were not repaid for our inequities as we so deserved. Our sins are forgiven infinitely to the east, and infinitely to the west!
• He lives beyond the three heavens we see - above our sky and atmosphere, above our moon, and above and beyond the sun, the stars, and the galaxies. His love is larger and beyond all of those heavens for those who revere and respect Him.
• He knows exactly how we were formed because He created us from dust. When He finished creating everything, He pronounced that it was "very good."
• We were created to be finite, with a beginning and an end. Our days on this earth have all been numbered by our dear infinite LORD.
• He is from everlasting to everlasting, and His love extends to us who fear Him and are obedient to His will, to our children, and our children's children. His love never fails, and it never ceases.
• The Lord's throne is established in heaven. He is our sovereign Lord, and His kingdom will come. It will be established here on earth, just as it is in heaven!
• Just as David said in Psalm 146:1, "Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord, O my soul."

"Forget not all His benefits" because His are certainly the best!

Dear Heavenly Father,
May I take your charge to forget not your benefits seriously. May I remember that you loved me so much you kept me from the pit of destruction! You put all my sins behind your back (Isaiah 38:17). Refresh my heart, so I may praise you in my soul and live in a tranquility and peace that can only come from you. Your grace and mercy are almost beyond my comprehension, but remembering your benefits brings me closer to you. Your benefits are for my eternal health and well-being, not just my earthly health. May such meditation kindle a deeper love in me for you! Amen.