James
5 - The patient and persevering family
With a focus particularly on verses 7-20, this amazing passage
overarches with a beautiful theme of family. The things that it speaks of can
be set within the context of a family which is something for all of us to be
aware of at this time.
In verses 7-12 there are 3 themes of importance; patience, grumbling and perseverance. How easy it is to live
impatiently! It todays culture you can get most of what you want in an instant
and in the simple click of a button and yet the culture of Heaven implores us
to bear a fruit of patience. Not everything the Lord does in our lives both
individually and corporately happens in an instant. Look at Joseph - he spent
13 years in prison before he made it in to Egypt!
What about the way in which we use our mouths? How easy it is to waste
so much time grumbling against our family. The power of life and death are in
the tongue. Today’s culture persuades us that our gaining of power and
significance needs to come at the expense of another, especially through the
way we talk about them. And yet, the culture of Heaven calls us to bear a fruit
of love and honour in the way we treat others. Let’s call ourselves as part of
a wonderful family to a higher, purer and more Heaven orientated standard of
love and honour.
Perseverance can be a tricky one too can’t it? How many times have you
heard someone say, ‘I wish I had persevered with playing the piano (or any
instrument) when I was younger. I would love to be able to play it now!’? There
are so many examples of that in life. Perseverance can be tricky because it
calls us to see beyond the momentary experience of our circumstance. Romans 5: 1-5 pulls us further into
Heavens culture which demonstrates that a fruit of perseverance is hope, which
is the eager anticipation of good things. Oh how we need to persevere! What
would our family look like if we consistently lived eagerly anticipating good
things?
Looking just briefly into verses 13-20, there are so many things for
us to be aware of. There are people in our family that are in trouble and need
our prayers. People that are happy that we need to rejoice with. There are sick
people that need healing and the loving prayers of a family of faith. Prayer
has the power to change lives and turn an impossibility on its head.
We are called to be a patient, persevering, loving and honouring,
righteous and prayerful family that lives this life on earth driven forward and
aligned with the culture of Heaven.
(member of the staff team)