Two thoughts are on my mind this morning. I am reading and thinking about them.
The first is 'impatience'.
The second is a small phrase that a host of a holiday gathering said that stuck with me. They had serval groups of people in their home. We were at a table and she looked at us as she passed by to greet yet another group as they came in with baked goods and coats that were coming off their bodies.
She said, as she turned to face us, 'I know I'm ignoring you.' and took a coat to find a place to hang it up.
All at once I felt we both knew the opposite was true. She wasn't ignoring any of us. We were known. She cared how we all felt. She wanted everyone to feel at home and get attention. We weren't second-class citizens. I think of this passage.
"Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will repay him for his deed." - Proverbs 19:17 ESV
In a way, we know God isn't ignoring the poor and He won't ignore us. He considers generosity to others 'a loan' but at the same time, it looks like He has ignored the poor. He hasn't. He isn't. It looks that way but it isn't true.
Ok.
Back to the first idea of impatience. We are to be 'in the world' but not 'of the world' but impatience is an 'of the world' mindset. We want to control, orchestrate or just approve of the way (or speed) something is done but things can often spin out of control. Do we have peace? Peace is an 'out of this world' thing. Calm may be natural but not deep peace. Peace is something of God and 'sourced' in God. It passes understanding.
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." - John 14:27 ESV
Wow.
What did Jesus have? Where did He leave his peace so we can find it?
I think it is in the knowledge of the attention and personal acceptance of our Father in Heaven. It looks like He isn't listening but He Is. We act in love trusted in His love and He sees it and treats it like a loan because He cares.
No one should condemn themselves for being impatient. No one should find a reason to condemn themselves ever but impatience is a symptom that we need to find the peace that Jesus left behind. One we find that peace we can be an oasis of peace and hospitality without striving.
--
Showing posts with label Patience. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Patience. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 8, 2019
Monday, February 13, 2017
Postponing Negative Reactions
A small but loaded phrase from the booklet I am reading...
'... it is always best to postpone negative reactions under the government of grace...'
Why? We have redemptive motivations.
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another." - Galatians 5:22-26 ESV
Patience, long suffering and self control are really thing God does in us and through us. We often have a moment of decision... a moment when we can look into the future instead of having a present reaction. A moment when the lit match that would ignite us is being held between our thumb and index finger. Will we drop it into the kindling or blow it out?
I want to keep in step with the Spirit. I choose to let the mind of Christ dwell in me richly and look to a redemptive future.
We all can have sore spots that cause us to flinch if touched but the choice to bare our teeth or not is ours. Mercy gives what isn't deserved and grace assigns favor based on God's value system. Reacting isn't going to ease the pain and God has healing in His wings if that is where we choose to dwell.
"Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities." - Isaiah 53:11 ESV
"For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering." - Hebrews 2:10 ESV
Jesus came as a servant and learned something from it. He was perfected through the suffering of his passion (his journey to the cross). That is baffling to think about but it is true. The God-man learned something this way?
He came into the journey to the cross with redemptive knowledge and a redemptive attitude and He came through it 'perfected.' Wow. God can do that for us also... on a different scale but it is the same dynamic.
Are we available for that? Perhaps our rights and opinions mean more to us than they should.
--
'... it is always best to postpone negative reactions under the government of grace...'
Why? We have redemptive motivations.
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another." - Galatians 5:22-26 ESV
Patience, long suffering and self control are really thing God does in us and through us. We often have a moment of decision... a moment when we can look into the future instead of having a present reaction. A moment when the lit match that would ignite us is being held between our thumb and index finger. Will we drop it into the kindling or blow it out?
I want to keep in step with the Spirit. I choose to let the mind of Christ dwell in me richly and look to a redemptive future.
We all can have sore spots that cause us to flinch if touched but the choice to bare our teeth or not is ours. Mercy gives what isn't deserved and grace assigns favor based on God's value system. Reacting isn't going to ease the pain and God has healing in His wings if that is where we choose to dwell.
"Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities." - Isaiah 53:11 ESV
"For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering." - Hebrews 2:10 ESV
Jesus came as a servant and learned something from it. He was perfected through the suffering of his passion (his journey to the cross). That is baffling to think about but it is true. The God-man learned something this way?
He came into the journey to the cross with redemptive knowledge and a redemptive attitude and He came through it 'perfected.' Wow. God can do that for us also... on a different scale but it is the same dynamic.
Are we available for that? Perhaps our rights and opinions mean more to us than they should.
--
Wednesday, April 27, 2016
Hope Deferred
"Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life." - Proverbs 13:12 ESV
Are people heart sick because they don't have what they want yet or because they don't want what they already have?
I think it's both. If you spend any time with older people they treasure what they had and remember their youth and middle age vividly. It's like those times come into focus for them. Some fictionalize their past, others have deep regrets but there are others that appreciated things in the moment and then look back with appreciation and insight. The stories they tell about what happened to them in the past instruct a younger generation on what is happening in the present.
Yesterday we spoke about Jesus being the embodiment of hope and I'm looking at this verse in Proverbs in that context. I understand what it is like to live in a battle that rarely seems to end and suffer heartbreak after heartbreak. I know what it's like to want something and have that thing postponed again and again until you don't want to want it anymore but you can't change your heart's desire.
'But God...'
He Is what we have (if we have believed in His Son). Do we want Him?
He wants us.
"The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing." - Zephaniah 3:17 KJV
We can enter into His love and have a present hope that is not postponed.
"Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;" - Titus 2:13 KJV
Yes He Is coming later but His appearing is also the day of His visitation.
"For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them." - Matthew 18:20 ESV
People talk about living in the moment and I understand that but that falls short in so many ways because unless that moment is eternal it will turn to dust. Time does that to biological things because of the fall.
Hope is living in the eternal mind of the One who has won the victory over death and Hell. It is a tree of life and trees reproduce in multiplication as they give nourishment.
You may not have what you want but do you want what you have? We are stewards of hope. If we appreciate and take care of what we have God may just give us more to take care of.
--
Are people heart sick because they don't have what they want yet or because they don't want what they already have?
I think it's both. If you spend any time with older people they treasure what they had and remember their youth and middle age vividly. It's like those times come into focus for them. Some fictionalize their past, others have deep regrets but there are others that appreciated things in the moment and then look back with appreciation and insight. The stories they tell about what happened to them in the past instruct a younger generation on what is happening in the present.
Yesterday we spoke about Jesus being the embodiment of hope and I'm looking at this verse in Proverbs in that context. I understand what it is like to live in a battle that rarely seems to end and suffer heartbreak after heartbreak. I know what it's like to want something and have that thing postponed again and again until you don't want to want it anymore but you can't change your heart's desire.
'But God...'
He Is what we have (if we have believed in His Son). Do we want Him?
He wants us.
"The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing." - Zephaniah 3:17 KJV
We can enter into His love and have a present hope that is not postponed.
"Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;" - Titus 2:13 KJV
Yes He Is coming later but His appearing is also the day of His visitation.
"For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them." - Matthew 18:20 ESV
People talk about living in the moment and I understand that but that falls short in so many ways because unless that moment is eternal it will turn to dust. Time does that to biological things because of the fall.
Hope is living in the eternal mind of the One who has won the victory over death and Hell. It is a tree of life and trees reproduce in multiplication as they give nourishment.
You may not have what you want but do you want what you have? We are stewards of hope. If we appreciate and take care of what we have God may just give us more to take care of.
--
Thursday, August 21, 2014
Being Swift To Hear
"Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:" - James 1:19 KJV
A person who wants to learn is swift to hear. A problem solver must be. Anger or frustration often comes when we must have the solution and we are not patient enough to listen with our ears or our eyes.
The passage leading up to this verse is also very illuminating.
"Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures." - James 1:16-18 ESV
There is a flow coming from God. His input is useful (Agathos Strong's G18) and complete (Teleios G5046). Jesus used a word from the same family as that second word when He said, 'It is finished!' on the cross. God's grace is useful and His counsel brings us to completion because it comes from someone who has seen the end as well as the beginning.
If we are quick to listen and slow to speak our anger will come slowly also and will burn clean instead of sending up billows of smoke. Anger is reserved for evil not sin but we must listen to hear and discern the difference.
You may say what is the difference between evil and sin. Shouldn't both make me angry?
Sin is paid for. People miss the mark all the time. God is patient and long suffering for sinful things.
"If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared. I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope;" - Psalms 130:3-5 ESV
He hates sin but His anger about sin has been poured out on one substitute. Jesus was the sacrifice that paid to satisfy God's holiness.
God is still angry about evil and those that align themselves with evil will be caught in the crossfire of that righteous rage.
"But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly." - 2 Peter 3:7 ESV
"But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed. He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil" - Romans 2:5-9a ESV
So if we understand man's depravity and are in God's flow of grace we will discern what is warfare and what is weakness. Anger will come slowly if and when it comes at all. It will not be faithless.
"Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. Selah" - Psalms 4:4 ESV
In other words do not act quickly in anger. Wait and think things through with God. Look at what the cross has done and weigh the situation that way. Sin is paid for but evil is not. Which one is this?
In the flow of God's goodness we will get definition and will be able to be kind but decisive. We will listen with our eyes and discover avenues to be a blessing to people instead of using their faults against them.
--
A person who wants to learn is swift to hear. A problem solver must be. Anger or frustration often comes when we must have the solution and we are not patient enough to listen with our ears or our eyes.
The passage leading up to this verse is also very illuminating.
"Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures." - James 1:16-18 ESV
There is a flow coming from God. His input is useful (Agathos Strong's G18) and complete (Teleios G5046). Jesus used a word from the same family as that second word when He said, 'It is finished!' on the cross. God's grace is useful and His counsel brings us to completion because it comes from someone who has seen the end as well as the beginning.
If we are quick to listen and slow to speak our anger will come slowly also and will burn clean instead of sending up billows of smoke. Anger is reserved for evil not sin but we must listen to hear and discern the difference.
You may say what is the difference between evil and sin. Shouldn't both make me angry?
Sin is paid for. People miss the mark all the time. God is patient and long suffering for sinful things.
"If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared. I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope;" - Psalms 130:3-5 ESV
He hates sin but His anger about sin has been poured out on one substitute. Jesus was the sacrifice that paid to satisfy God's holiness.
God is still angry about evil and those that align themselves with evil will be caught in the crossfire of that righteous rage.
"But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly." - 2 Peter 3:7 ESV
"But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed. He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil" - Romans 2:5-9a ESV
So if we understand man's depravity and are in God's flow of grace we will discern what is warfare and what is weakness. Anger will come slowly if and when it comes at all. It will not be faithless.
"Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. Selah" - Psalms 4:4 ESV
In other words do not act quickly in anger. Wait and think things through with God. Look at what the cross has done and weigh the situation that way. Sin is paid for but evil is not. Which one is this?
In the flow of God's goodness we will get definition and will be able to be kind but decisive. We will listen with our eyes and discover avenues to be a blessing to people instead of using their faults against them.
--
Friday, August 16, 2013
Firstfruits of The Spirit
"The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs - heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience." Romans 8:16-25 ESV
Hope is a beautiful thing. God issued the decree of death to Adam in hope. The hope was based on Christ's death, planned before the foundation of the world, and that people would take the way given to them out of the grip of evil. In would be an end of madness and a new beginning for every willing participant involved.
God did the hard thing... but He did it in hope.
We often groan but we do it having 'the firstfruits of the Spirit' if we know Christ. The first fruits are that first and best part of the harvest given to God before any person partook of the rest of it.
Grace is God's first and best given to a hungry world before the hunger is yet satisfied with the promise that it soon will be satisfied. We are God's firstfruits. The cross will heal the world. The stripes on Christ's back are the proof that man and creation will one day live free of evil and sickness. His blood shed means that no one else will be judged for sin.
The Spirit in us that produces hope will also produce patience. That's good because we are going to need it. Lot's of it.
As we know from our relationship with God to date... God has no shortage of patience. He is patient with us and He will give patience and longsuffering to us.
Hope is a beautiful thing. God issued the decree of death to Adam in hope. The hope was based on Christ's death, planned before the foundation of the world, and that people would take the way given to them out of the grip of evil. In would be an end of madness and a new beginning for every willing participant involved.
God did the hard thing... but He did it in hope.
We often groan but we do it having 'the firstfruits of the Spirit' if we know Christ. The first fruits are that first and best part of the harvest given to God before any person partook of the rest of it.
Grace is God's first and best given to a hungry world before the hunger is yet satisfied with the promise that it soon will be satisfied. We are God's firstfruits. The cross will heal the world. The stripes on Christ's back are the proof that man and creation will one day live free of evil and sickness. His blood shed means that no one else will be judged for sin.
The Spirit in us that produces hope will also produce patience. That's good because we are going to need it. Lot's of it.
As we know from our relationship with God to date... God has no shortage of patience. He is patient with us and He will give patience and longsuffering to us.
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Good Ground
"And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable: A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it. And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it. And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be? And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand." Luke 8:4-10
Jesus spoke many parables in the Gospels but it is interesting to me that this is the one where we see the disciples ask what the parable means. Perhaps they asked Him many times but here it is recorded in the scriptures. Then His answer to them is recorded.
"Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God... But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience." Luke 8:11 & 15
These people had this dynamic going on in their life to one degree or another (except for Judas) but still they needed explanation and definition. I think that is because the work God's word is doing in a person is not always apparent. It is something that requires faith because it is not seen right away.
This week a man came to church for the first time and sat in the first row. At the end of the 9am service he raised his hand at the salvation call. P Scibelli had invited him to church 100 times before he came. 100 times!
We are not guaranteed to see immediate return when we invest God Word into our own life or the lives of others but there is a dynamic that is happening none the less and by faith we have 'an ear to hear.' There will be a return... there always is a return of some kind.
The people who go to Jesus about His Word and ask... they understand that God's words are not like other words. They are seeds that contain life in them ready to do a work under the soil... the good heart has God's righteousness given to it and is aware that patience is needed for the process involved... fruit will come someday... the Gospel will do it's work.
We are sowers not transformers. We see value we don't produce value. God does and we are witnesses of His gracious glory.
Each word is like a rain drop that forms into a stream that feeds a mighty river and flows into a cycle of nourishment that returns again like rain. Each phrase a block that builds an eternal structure.
I want to invest in this investment. Jesus and His finished work become visible here when the work of the Word is functioning. No where else will that happen. No work of mine can produce that. This is God's work.
Jesus spoke many parables in the Gospels but it is interesting to me that this is the one where we see the disciples ask what the parable means. Perhaps they asked Him many times but here it is recorded in the scriptures. Then His answer to them is recorded.
"Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God... But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience." Luke 8:11 & 15
These people had this dynamic going on in their life to one degree or another (except for Judas) but still they needed explanation and definition. I think that is because the work God's word is doing in a person is not always apparent. It is something that requires faith because it is not seen right away.
This week a man came to church for the first time and sat in the first row. At the end of the 9am service he raised his hand at the salvation call. P Scibelli had invited him to church 100 times before he came. 100 times!
We are not guaranteed to see immediate return when we invest God Word into our own life or the lives of others but there is a dynamic that is happening none the less and by faith we have 'an ear to hear.' There will be a return... there always is a return of some kind.
The people who go to Jesus about His Word and ask... they understand that God's words are not like other words. They are seeds that contain life in them ready to do a work under the soil... the good heart has God's righteousness given to it and is aware that patience is needed for the process involved... fruit will come someday... the Gospel will do it's work.
We are sowers not transformers. We see value we don't produce value. God does and we are witnesses of His gracious glory.
Each word is like a rain drop that forms into a stream that feeds a mighty river and flows into a cycle of nourishment that returns again like rain. Each phrase a block that builds an eternal structure.
I want to invest in this investment. Jesus and His finished work become visible here when the work of the Word is functioning. No where else will that happen. No work of mine can produce that. This is God's work.
Sunday, December 9, 2012
Let Them Wait Awhile
When someone keeps you waiting on purpose it is show of power. A flexing of the muscles. It is an indirect way of saying, "I control my time and resources not you or anyone else." Some interviewers will keep a person waiting on purpose just to see how they will react. Here is perfect example of it in the scriptures:
" 'But when Paul appealed to be held in custody for the Emperor's decision, I ordered him to be kept in custody until I send him to Caesar.' Then Agrippa said to Festus, 'I also would like to hear the man myself.' 'Tomorrow,' he said, 'you shall hear him.' So, on the next day when Agrippa came together with Bernice amid great pomp, and entered the auditorium accompanied by the commanders and the prominent men of the city, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in." Acts 25:21-23 NAS
Festus was playing a game with Paul and likely with Rome as well. He didn't play that game with Agrippa or better yet his giving of access to Agrippa was a way of showing respect. He still made even him wait a day to see Paul.
Women have done it to potential suitors for centuries. For some it is a game they play and for others it is a way of putting on the brakes to see what a fellow's real motives are. I would say in purity it is a good thing to do. If you don't know a man very well let him wait a while sometime and see how he reacts. I'm not saying someone should make playing games a lifestyle. You only need to test a piece of jewelry once to see if it is really made of gold after that you don't need to kept testing it.
For some it is a tool to be used in conquest to incite indignation and destabilize. Forced waiting also can be used as a cooling agent. It can be like waiting for a cup of coffee to cool a bit before drinking it or waiting a day before for spending a large sum of money on an impulse purchase.
Lastly, There are times when power isn't involved at all. A thing may just not be ready yet. I'd rather wait for the french fries to be well done and crispy then for a person to pull them up out of the oil early and try and do me a favor of some kind. Sometimes it just 'ain't soup yet' and it is better to wait for it.
"Therefore the LORD will wait, that He may be gracious to you; And therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you. For the LORD is a God of justice; Blessed are all those who wait for Him. For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem; You shall weep no more. He will be very gracious to you at the sound of your cry; When He hears it, He will answer you." Is 30:18-19
Notice the LORD here is all capitalized because it is using His most secret and intimate of names. All three principles are in motion. God is waiting in His power. God is letting things cool down. He is timing things for the best possible result.
You may ask, 'Is God manipulating me by making me wait?'. Well, For one thing that would be his right if he wanted to. Maybe our old sin nature needs to cool down in the grave. Perhaps that area of our life needs a good old fashioned death, burial and resurrection. Three long days in the grave can do our soul a whole lot of good sometimes when we are functioning in an energized momentum.
An intimate relationship has no need of muscle flexing. Humility and meekness remove that strategy from our play book. A believer is confident of God's power and control therefore there isn't a need to exercise his or her own.
You will notice in the book of Acts Paul is unruffled by these dealings between Festus and Agrippa. He has great grace for the situation. Paul could be very objective and content. Here is how that interaction ended.
"Then Agrippa said to Paul, 'You almost persuade me to become a Christian.' and Paul said, 'I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains.' " Acts 26:28-29 NKJV
Paul just kept stirring the pot as he waited. Let's do that! Let's stir the pot while we wait knowing that when God's meal is done is is going to be really good.
" 'But when Paul appealed to be held in custody for the Emperor's decision, I ordered him to be kept in custody until I send him to Caesar.' Then Agrippa said to Festus, 'I also would like to hear the man myself.' 'Tomorrow,' he said, 'you shall hear him.' So, on the next day when Agrippa came together with Bernice amid great pomp, and entered the auditorium accompanied by the commanders and the prominent men of the city, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in." Acts 25:21-23 NAS
Festus was playing a game with Paul and likely with Rome as well. He didn't play that game with Agrippa or better yet his giving of access to Agrippa was a way of showing respect. He still made even him wait a day to see Paul.
Women have done it to potential suitors for centuries. For some it is a game they play and for others it is a way of putting on the brakes to see what a fellow's real motives are. I would say in purity it is a good thing to do. If you don't know a man very well let him wait a while sometime and see how he reacts. I'm not saying someone should make playing games a lifestyle. You only need to test a piece of jewelry once to see if it is really made of gold after that you don't need to kept testing it.
For some it is a tool to be used in conquest to incite indignation and destabilize. Forced waiting also can be used as a cooling agent. It can be like waiting for a cup of coffee to cool a bit before drinking it or waiting a day before for spending a large sum of money on an impulse purchase.
Lastly, There are times when power isn't involved at all. A thing may just not be ready yet. I'd rather wait for the french fries to be well done and crispy then for a person to pull them up out of the oil early and try and do me a favor of some kind. Sometimes it just 'ain't soup yet' and it is better to wait for it.
"Therefore the LORD will wait, that He may be gracious to you; And therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you. For the LORD is a God of justice; Blessed are all those who wait for Him. For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem; You shall weep no more. He will be very gracious to you at the sound of your cry; When He hears it, He will answer you." Is 30:18-19
Notice the LORD here is all capitalized because it is using His most secret and intimate of names. All three principles are in motion. God is waiting in His power. God is letting things cool down. He is timing things for the best possible result.
You may ask, 'Is God manipulating me by making me wait?'. Well, For one thing that would be his right if he wanted to. Maybe our old sin nature needs to cool down in the grave. Perhaps that area of our life needs a good old fashioned death, burial and resurrection. Three long days in the grave can do our soul a whole lot of good sometimes when we are functioning in an energized momentum.
An intimate relationship has no need of muscle flexing. Humility and meekness remove that strategy from our play book. A believer is confident of God's power and control therefore there isn't a need to exercise his or her own.
You will notice in the book of Acts Paul is unruffled by these dealings between Festus and Agrippa. He has great grace for the situation. Paul could be very objective and content. Here is how that interaction ended.
"Then Agrippa said to Paul, 'You almost persuade me to become a Christian.' and Paul said, 'I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains.' " Acts 26:28-29 NKJV
Paul just kept stirring the pot as he waited. Let's do that! Let's stir the pot while we wait knowing that when God's meal is done is is going to be really good.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)