Phil built one
airplane (yes, a real one!) in his garage 10 years ago. Last week he showed me
the first pieces he is fabricating into yet another one. The first project took
about 5 years to complete and he’s looking at a few years on this one, too. He
assured me that this time it would go faster because of his experience. The work is detailed, repetitious, and
exacting. He’s building a machine to
which he will entrust his life, so there is no rushing, no shortcuts in the
work. Starting something like this
requires passion, vision, and above all; patience! If the
partially completed airplanes available on Ebay are any indicator, there
are some who start and don’t finish.
I am so thankful
for the Lord’s patience. Do you know that He is a patient God?
Gideon was a
fearful farmer in Israel during a time of repeated invasions by the Midianite
people. Each year, at harvest time, the
raiders would sweep through Israel, stealing their crops, leaving the nation to
starve. After several years of this,
Israel cried out to God for deliverance.
The LORD answered by calling Gideon to leadership, but the young man was
having none of it. When God’s messenger appeared to him, addressing him as ‘Mighty
Warrior,’ Gideon argued that He had found the wrong man. “Me, my master? How and with
what could I ever save Israel? Look at me. My clan’s the weakest in Manasseh
and I’m the runt of the litter.” (Judges 6:15, The Message) After further conversation, Gideon asked for
time to go and prepare an offering, a sacrifice. It would take hours. Would God wait? "Please
do not go away until I come back and bring my offering and set it before you.”
And the LORD said, “I will wait
until you return.” (Judges 6:18, NIV) Gideon did return, God did reveal His power,
and Israel got a new leader, empowered by the Spirit!
Is the Spirit of
God birthing a new vision in you, leading you into a new endeavor for which you
feel unprepared? Are you wrestling with
fear or doubt, unsure of how to proceed? The Lord will wait! No, I am not suggesting
we should test Him or that it is wise to refuse His will. But, we need not
think that if we don’t jump at the first impulse that He will pass us by! We must not be deceived by the rapid pace of
our lives into thinking that if we are not super-saints overnight, if we fail
to conquer some sinful habit in a month, if faith slips from our grasp from
time to time – that God will drop us and move on. He loves us so much that He is patient. His
desire is to transform us, working persistently and patiently. The Word says, “When God is personally present, a living Spirit, … we are transfigured
much like the Messiah, our lives
gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and
we become like Him.” (The Message 2 Cor. 3:17-18)
Tell Him you want
to be like Jesus! Ask Him for ever-increasing faith! Pray faithfully. And, yes, trust His willing to wait patiently
for you. "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand
slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to
come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9, NIV)
______________
Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus
O soul are you weary and troubled,
No light in the darkness you see?
There's light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free.
Turn your eyes upon Jesus.
Look full in His wonderful face.
And the things of earth,
Will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace!
Helen H. Lemmel
© Words: 1922 New
Spring
_________________
Jerry D. Scott, Pastor
Faith Discovery Church
Washington, NJ 07882
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