Bible Verse of the Day Sunday November 27th, 2022

James 5:7 Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains.

At this writing from James, in Palestine, the farmers would plant their crops in the latter part of October and in the opening weeks of November. The farmers would then wait patiently for the rains to begin in the fall of the year. James is making the point as steady as the farmers would wait for the fall rains; as Christians, we should live a patient life as we await the return of our Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus. The thesis here in this verse of scripture is two-fold: the importance of being patient, and the second point is we are not continually reaping the rewards from God, but that there will be seasons of planting and cultivating.

James and all of the other early followers and believers in Christ Jesus knew the meaning of persecution and patiently awaited the rewards from God, through Christ Jesus, here on this earth and in life eternal. As modern-day Christians, we may never know the cruel persecution of the early Christians. However, our abuse from Satan's temptations and his evil followers is a form of oppression in its harassment and intimidation. Actual Christian patients are a characteristic and attribute of self-control when issues arise between us and our brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus. The faithful Christian with this quality will not seek to get even when someone sins against them. Therefore, the devoted followers and believers in Christ Jesus will also have within their hearts and souls an element of grace and mercy (Exodus 34:6; 1 Corinthians 13:3).

Sometimes, we all slip in this area and seek to hold a grudge against someone we perceive has done us wrong. However, God has provided us with the means to leave any retaliation and retribution in His hands (Psalm 37:7-9). Patients can be viewed or described as the justification to seek to avenge ourselves, but genuinely turning the other cheek (Matthew 5:38-41). We need not seek revenge against anyone that goes against us or does us harm because we know that when our Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus, returns to this earth, the times of sorrow, anguish and torture will find its conclusion (Titus 2:13).

The only true acceptance of the second coming of Christ Jesus is a belief and acknowledgment of the real purpose of His first coming (2 Timothy 4:8). The knowledge and recognition of the truth of the second coming of Christ Jesus will create a manageable present and make way for the faithful followers and believers in Christ Jesus to eclipse and overpower in all trials and tribulations that happen to us (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).