“You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.” James 5:8-11
Devotional Thought For The Day
This is the ultimate goal of Holy Scripture and of God’s providence over our lives – that we may know, and remember, and live in the reality that “the Lord is compassionate and merciful.” This is His “purpose.” Those who know the true nature of His gracious forgiveness and mercy in Christ Jesus understand this reality with greatest clarity. Those who reject God’s free gift of forgiveness, life, and eternal salvation in heaven through unbelief, by insisting upon thinking of God as One Who requires that we make ourselves good and righteous and worthy of His blessing – contrary to His Word, cannot know Him and understand Him as “compassionate and merciful.” Those who know His gracious love in Christ Jesus agree with the apostle Paul: “He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?” [Rom. 8:32] Gradually, as we meditate upon the greatness of God’s love for us, His gracious mercy and compassion, we also become more certain that nothing can separate us from His love for us in Christ Jesus, and that He is working all things together for our greatest good and blessedness. [Rom. 8:39; Rom. 8:28] We grow in faith, in trust, in knowledge of His love, in courage and confidence, and in eager and joyful expectation of the fulfillment of all of His great and glorious promises to us in Christ Jesus.
We must still, in accordance with His Word “through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.” [Acts 14:22] Jesus gently reminds us that “in the world you shall have tribulation.” [John 16:33] These troubles and tribulations are the common woes of mankind living under the general curse of God upon human sin – work, toil, financial concerns, illnesses, accidents, aging, and finally physical death. They also include all that we must sacrifice and endure for our faith and loyalty to Jesus, and to our heavenly Father and His Word. Faith applies the knowledge of God’s compassion and mercy, especially His gracious gifts of forgiveness and salvation in Christ Jesus, against all of these unpleasantries, knowing that our dear Lord Jesus has “overcome the world” [John 16:33] guaranteeing us deliverance and blessedness in all things, even those we must suffer and endure. So the blessed are those who “remain steadfast” – as did the prophets, apostles, martyrs, and all of God’s dear children of faith through the ages. We can do so through faith in God’s compassion and mercy, knowing that God is richly blessing us even in these painful and challenging things.
As we grow in this faith and confidence in the Lord we also grow more patient with life, and also more patient with others. We are not patient and accepting of evil, especially not the many false teachings which obscure and deny the true nature of God, but we grow more like the Lord – compassionate and merciful. So we grow less short-tempered and mean-spirited, and certainly less judgmental of people, especially those who truly know God by faith and who suffer sins of weakness rather than engaging in intentional rebellion against God’s Word and denial of His nature. We understand our own weaknesses and foibles, our own growth in faith and the knowledge of God’s love, that we too struggle with various temptations and weaknesses in our faith and trust in God. But we know Who the Judge is, and that He is near – and even as we cling to His compassion and mercy, so we extend compassion and mercy to others. The more we grow in faith, the more capable we are of reflecting the nature of God in our behaviors and our relationships with others.
Even as we grow in understanding the various dangers around us in this fallen world that is passing away [1 John 2:17], let us take time to see and meditate upon the many evidences of God’s goodness, love, mercy, and compassion in nature, in the world we are blessed to live in now. Take time to look at the beauty of flowers, trees, all the other flora and fauna, clouds, sunsets, and rainbows. Enjoy the warmth of sunshine and the cool of the breeze and the refreshment of rain. Relish good food and drink, and all the other joys in life, including friendship and love. Drink deeply of the goodness of God – and thank Him in Christ Jesus for His love, compassion, and mercy, as you take time to enjoy His creation. And remember always that what He has promised in the life to come is even far more glorious, more than we can even begin to imagine. Then praise God for His purpose in creating you – which is loving and blessed. Yes, praise Him for Who He is – for all of His love, compassion, and mercy in Christ Jesus! Remain steadfast in this faith and joy, and blessed!
Prayer For The Day
Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for fully revealing the great love, compassion, and mercy of God to us. Thank You for Who You are, and for all that You have promised to us, and all that You do for us every moment of every day. Open our eyes to Your goodness and love, enable us to enjoy all of Your blessings in humble faith and trust in You, and help us to live each moment more fully reflecting Your compassion and love to others. Amen.