LET PATIENCE HAVE HER PERFECT WORK

"My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wainting nothing." James 1:2-4 KJV.

It is recorded in the epistle of Paul to the Romans, how Abraham the father of faith, waited. He was believing in hope, against hope. He was fully aware of his age and that of Sarah, his wife, knowing that  humanly, there was no hope of bearing a son, as God promised (this was hope 1). He was also persuaded that God was able to bring his promises to pass, no matter what happens (this was hope 2).

Many people would have tagged him barren, hopeless, or God freak (because he changed his name from Abram), they would have thought he was insane, daydreaming or hallucinating. I'm sure the wife must have suffered the same reproach and confrontations (what on earth could have triggered such terrible advise she gave Abraham? "Sleep with my maid, maybe i could bare you a son from her"), though Abraham fell for it, but thank God he was a righteous man, who knew how to rise after several falls.

Abraham chose to believe God, rather than his predicament, he did not allow the words of mockers, neighbors, and, well wishers to deter him from the one who was (and is, and will forever be) able to do exceeding abundantly above all his request and imaginations. He knew God was going to give him a son anyhow he (God) wants it done. When God gave him Ishmael through Hagar, he concluded that that was the promise, but, God told him the promise he gave would come through Sarah his wife, and not from Hagar the maid from Egypt. Brethren, Abraham still waited.

Many of us today, would have entreated God to allow Ishmael be the promise: thereby missing God's will for us.

When God anointed David as King, he did not get to the throne immediately, but was running from cave to cave in the wilderness hiding from Saul and his men for many years, before God fulfilled his promise.

Job refused against all odds to curse God or to deny his stance with God, he was still willing to hope in God, though it cost his life. he said "Though he slay me, yet will i trust in him: but i will maintain my own ways before him.

God is not a man that he should lie; neither the son of man that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? Number 23:19.

Many times, when we fall into temptations, it is not meant to destroy us, or keep us away from God, but rather: make us realise that we are men, we are not God, and also test our faith and reliance on God.

Faith is not just saying we believe God and living our lives like unbelievers, who don't know, neither believe him, but it is the act of believing in him, and that is what determines our perspectives and responses to issues of life, and separates us from the man who trust in his ability or on that of others.

When passing through trials and temptations, who do we run to, cry to, look to for help and deliverance? How do we react to our situations? Do we hope a little in God, and hope a little in man, or even the voice of our flesh, our fears, or the deceit of the Devil? Let us remember Hebrews 11:6 which says "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him; and Hebrews 10:35-39 says we should not lack confidence, and that we need patience to receive the promise, it also says the Just shall live by faith.

Faith is one of our weapons of warfare, and patience is an act of faith. When faith is not acted upon, it is typically DEAD. It is the faith that work that grow. We can grow our faith through patience.

It is the faith, we have in God and in his son Jesus Christ, that makes us holy, perfect, established, settled and victorious in this passing world of trouble and vanity.

Everything God has revealed in his words are to benefit us, our relatives and loved ones, So we can fear God and do his will, and thereby shine his light to the World. Deuteronomy 29:29

For further Study: i recommend that you read the story of these three giants of faith i highlighted above: Abraham in Genesis, David in Samuel and 1 Chronicles, and Job in the book of Job.

Read and share.

I sincerely look forward for comments, criticisms and feedback. I like to know your thoughts, and how this word has encouraged or inspired you.

God bless you richly.

#waitingonGod #workingfaith