DEVOTION: James 5:7-11
"Patience in Suffering"
7 Be patient, therefore, brothers,[a] until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. 8 You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. 9 Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. 10 As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 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.
If there's one thing that most people learn as they get older, it's patience in suffering. We tend to learn that if the Lord has brought you to something, he'll also bring you through something. We've learned that when good days come, bad days are not far behind, but that those bad days will soon end too, either the Lord will have mercy on us in this life and give us relief, or he will have mercy on us and take us to heaven.
Either way we're good!
One thing I've also seen these days is that there is too much complaining. Everyone is complaining too much about everything. Part of being patient is dealing with the circumstance you are in the best way you can and being a witness to Christ through it.
That's what James is talking abut here. There is no better witness than one who can endure the ridicule, scorn, or the unrighteous disapproval of other for the faith. There's no better witness than one who can praise God even when he or she is hurting.
Be patient in your suffering and realize that Christ's mercy is already with you and will remain with you. His eternal mercy is right around the corner, when he will take you to paradise forever. Look forward to it with joyful expectation and peace!
Prayer: Lord, give us the patience we need to endure with joy so we may be witnesses to your mercy and grace. Amen.
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Wed- Women's work day 9:30; Supper 5:30; Worship 6:30; Choir 7:15
Thurs- Karate 5:15-7:30
Fri- Bible Study at Hendershot's 7pm
Sat- Sunday school Christmas program practice 10-11am; Worship 5pm
Sun- Worship 8:30; Sunday school 9:45; Chapel 11; Elder's meeting noon
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WORSHIP WORKERS FOR THIS COMING WEEKEND:
Acolyte- Wed- Abby Vossen 8:30- Sarah Cluver 11- Cameron Faerber
Ushers- Wed- Brett Nordwald, Charlie Figura, Jason Figura, Erv Yoder
Sun- Don Hance, Rich Boeger, Doug Walters, Don Tate
Altar- Wed- Terry McKenzie Sat Set up- Cheri' Hofeldt; Clean Up- Joanne Hachtel
Elders- Sat- Jim Rahn; 8:30- Roy Bohning 11- John Hachtel
Greeters- 8:30- Randy and Patty Sweet; 11- Al and Karen Benton
Lay Readers- Sat- Jim Rahn; 8:30- Roy Bohning; 11- John Hachtel
Piano- Kathy Barrow
Organist- Rachel Fisher
Projectionists: Sat- Perricone; Sun- Yoder
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YESTERDAY'S QUIZ: In what year (approximately) did Paul write his letter to the Romans?
Two people answered yesterday:
Thanks to Don Nolte for the short answer of somewhere between 55-57A.D.
And thank you to Pat King for the explanation and historical significance:
Since I was around when he wrote it – I was off doing other old-time stuff, like cave-writing! - I had to look it up. Yes, I know! Google bad. Anyway, here's what the all-knowing Wiki says:
The precise time at which it was written is not mentioned in the epistle, but it was obviously written when the collection for Jerusalem had been assembled and Paul was about to "go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints", that is, at the close of his second visit to Greece, during the winter preceding his last visit to that city. The majority of scholars writing on Romans propose the letter was written in late 55/early 56 or late 56/early 57. Early 55 and early 58 both have some support, while German New Testament scholar Gerd Lüdemann argues for a date as early as 51/52 (or 54/55), following on from Knox, who proposed 53/54. Lüdemann is the only serious challenge to the consensus of mid to late 50s.