Journal ~ JamesSample

 PROPRIETY, PATIENCE, & PRAYERS 

Why should we be patient? Why should we be patient when we are being slandered. Why should we be patient when the other party is clearly in the wrong. Why should we not speak up and demand our rights? 

James’s reasoning for being patient may seem absurd to us. He says: ”... be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near.” He is commanding us to be patient just because Jesus is about to come back again? That's silly, right? Jesus has not returned for 2,000 years and how much longer should we remain patient? Won’t our patience run out before Jesus returns?

The patience that James is referring to is not about defending our rights. The patience here is about testifying our faith. This patience is about living out his call although sometimes it means we will suffer and endure ridicule. 

Sometimes, when it comes to our testimony,  we need to set aside what is rightfully ours. Jesus expresses it best when he commanded us to give the other cheek or walk the extra mile. It is not about our rights but it is about our testimony.