Seize the Moment – Day 323
Journey with Patient Perseverance!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Wednesday, February 3.
I started running again a couple of years ago. I am greatly enjoying running on the trail around Westwood Lake and on the Wilbur Wright Trail and am now working towards a trail marathon. It is amazing how much long distance running mirrors the Christian life. Both require a patient perseverance—a long slow obedience in the same direction!
James 5:7-8 closes his letter with a call to patient perseverance knowing that all things will bear fruit in their season: “Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains. You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.”
Patience is the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) that God has given you and that He calls you to cultivate as good fruit. In fact, patient perseverance is necessary for you to become whole and holy.
You see, God wants you to become whole and holy. Holy is being at peace with God and wholeness is being at peace with oneself. It is only when we are whole and holy that we can truly reflect the image of Christ to the world as He designed each of us to do uniquely and personally.
So, cultivate the good fruit of patient perseverance in your life. I’m only 46, but the older I get the more I realize that life is a long slow obedience in the same direction. It’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon, and more specifically, it’s a trail marathon so hit the trail today and enjoy the journey!
Seize the moment and strengthen your heart for the coming of the Lord is near. Journey with patient perseverance until the finish line!