My Town

Series: April Showers

In my town today there were no April showers. I woke up to a warm breeze with the sun shining down.  It was as perfect a day as you’ll find anywhere. Even at dusk there wasn’t a cloud in the sky and there was a cool breeze.

I don’t remember we’ve had such a perfect day for a while.

After breakfast and coffee, I opened my Bible and read the scripture I was to write about today. I’ve read that same scripture before, but I always try to approach the text like it’s a first time. I pray as I read, and I ask God to make all things new.

As I readJames 5:7 i thought about the words, “Be patient brothers and sisters until the Lord comes.”

I knew from studying James in Seminary the words were written sometime after 44 A.D. i have often wondered if they had any idea that in 2026 we would read his words, pray, think about hearing those words read for the congregation, and pontificate waiting patiently until the Lord comes.

I am always amazed, even though I’ve heard and read a scripture many many times when God breathes on the scripture, I see new things. Of course, I’m not the one who sees it. God is the one who shows me.

I know from studying early church history when they read those words, they believed the Lord could come again tomorrow. They never doubted that Jesus would return, but they thought it could be in their lifetime.

Years and centuries have passed and still we wait.

It’s important that we wait.

It’s important that we believe Jesus will come again in my lifetime.

It seems to me if we stop believing Jesus will come soon we run the risk of missing the urgency of Jesus returning.

When we stop understanding the urgency we will lose sight of the importance of Jesus coming again. We will lose the urgency of praying that Jesus will come again.

If we do not pray and wait and desire to see Jesus every day we will begin to accept life as it is without the promises of Jesus to come.

We have to remember in the first century when they read James‘s words, they burned to see Jesus again. They couldn’t wait to see Jesus. The most important thing in their lives was waiting for Jesus to return.

When is the last time you remember the pastor urging the congregation to remember Jesus will come again?

I have been part of a church for many decades and I do not remember being reminded regularly that Jesus will come again. Maybe that’s part of the reason I was struck today when I read James‘s words.

When I sit down to study, I always ask God to show me the way. The Holy Spirit is so good to show me things I have not seen before.

Today the Spirit urged me to consider the thought of what it will be like the day Jesus comes again.

I imagine I might be stunned.

I imagine I will cry. It’s not unusual for me to cry. I could cry when I’m very, very happy or very sad. These would be very very happy tears. Let God shower you with love and hope.

So how do you think you will really respond?

Deborah

acrazyjourney.com