[Wisdom of Solomon] Five Courses on a Table for Twoنموونە

Patient in Honoring God

Have you ever built a piece of furniture, or a playset, only to realize at the end that you missed a detail or put the doors or drawers on backward? That it would be best if you started all over, and so the process will take even longer? This can be the same feeling we experience when we miss the mark with God, when we sin. Our last course of this meal is being patient so that we can honor God. You may not have been patient, or maybe someone wasn't patient with you, but the Lord has been patient with us, despite our impatience.

In Christianity, the gospel doesn’t say to start over, do more, fix all these things in your life, and then God will take you. No, the gospel says come as you are. None of us are perfect. Jesus wants us who are broken and backward and upside down. He doesn’t want you to clean yourself up. That’s His job.

There is forgiveness in Jesus Christ for you if you messed up. You could have a new purity in Jesus. None of us have been perfect in our thoughts, and many haven't been perfect in our actions. Jesus can forgive you and take you and keep you.

What are the little foxes that can ruin your garden when you are single? If you’re single, start to trust in God’s timing. If you’re widowed, trust in God’s timing and character. You must be patient with the Lord, trusting He knows what He’s doing as you hope for romance in your life. Maybe God is working through some things in you as much as the other person.

When you are in a relationship, when you get married or are married, your sins don’t suddenly disappear. You will still have to wrestle with the little foxes and ensure they are caught and taken care of before they ruin the vineyard. If you’re married, these foxes could be your schedule, technology, or anything that gets in the way of you being able to praise publicly, give words of praise, or indulge in godly passion. What causes you to be too busy to have a true romance and a growing, godly relationship? Which responsibilities have usurped the highest priority on this side of your life? We must catch these foxes before they ruin our vineyards and our marriages.

It's the same with our walk with Christ. Which sins have allowed us to run in our life that has caused our relationship with Jesus not to be safe, trustworthy, or enjoyable? Which parts of the vineyard have wasted away because we didn’t deal with those sins? Jesus is still there, patiently waiting for us to come to Him.

Thought For Today: Ask the Lord to reveal the foxes in your walk with Him and your marriage or relationship. Freely give them up, knowing you have forgiveness waiting for you.

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