Patience

Piper has a great post about patience on the Desiring God blog.  My favorite line is from scripture: "the servant of the Lord must not strive."  This was a man who constantly did what he knew to do all the while waiting on the Lord to bring about the change of hearts. This is similar to the discussion we had in our small group last week.  I desire to see God really sweep through our lives and ministry with winds of change.  But as a good friend put it, we must be obedient while we wait.

Here is the entire post.  I just want to give credit where it is due to the original.

“The Lord is good to those who wait for him” (Lamentations 3:25).

Charles Simeon was in the Church of England from 1782 to 1836 at Trinity Church in Cambridge. He was appointed to his church by a bishop against the will of the people. They opposed him not because he was a bad preacher, but because he was an evangelical—he believed the Bible and called for conversion and holiness and world evangelization.

For twelve years the people refused to let him give the Sunday afternoon sermon. And during that time they boycotted the Sunday morning service and locked their pews so that no one could sit in them. He preached to people in the aisles for twelve years! The average stay of a pastor in America is about four years, under average circumstances.

Simeon began with twelve years of intense opposition—and lasted fifty-four years. How did he endure with such patience?

In this state of things I saw no remedy but faith and patience. The passage of Scripture which subdued and controlled my mind was this, “The servant of the Lord must not strive.” It was painful indeed to see the church, with the exception of the aisles, almost forsaken; but I thought that if God would only give a double blessing to the congregation that did attend, there would on the whole be as much good done as if the congregation were doubled and the blessing limited to only half the amount. This comforted me many, many times, when without such a reflection, I should have sunk under my burden. (H. C. G. Moule, Charles Simeon, [London: The InterVarsity Fellowship, 1948, orig. 1892], p. 39)

 

Comments

[Just Matt]

Maybe I am missing something - but How does this relate to "being still" & "waiting on God" OR am I totally missing the point and what you ARE saying is that we must move forward/be of action, even as we wait for God to change hearts...if so - I agree.

[John Thompson]

I didn't realize I could comment here. Maybe this helps Matt... now that I've posted this twice now, haha.

2 Timothy 2:24-26 ESV

24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.

2 Timothy 2:24-26 KJV

24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

2 Timothy 2:24-26 NIV

24 And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 25 Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.

Apparently strive and quarrel mean the same thing. I hate the English language. I wish I would have grown up Hebrew or something.

Hmmm, so get angry less, be kind to everyone, teach. Notice Paul implies that believers can be ensnared or trapped by the devil. There is that word again... enemy/devil.

[Gavin Black]

I get it...you're teaching us to be patient...I'm ready for more Blog!!!

[Brad]

Brad... didn't know you were a blogger! Good stuff. I will share this with Rebecca. Thanks for the encouraging words my friend.