Waiting…. and waiting… and…. waiting still
05 May 2011 2 Comments
in Patience
On my mind……that question on Facebook seems to torment me constantly (lol). On my mind right now …..the love and wisdom of God. We were studying James chapter 5 last night in Bible class and we came to verse 19 and 20. “My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth, and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his ways will save his soul from death, and will cover a multitude of sins.” Our teacher then pointed out the word “strays”. He pointed out the contrast between one who “strays” from the truth and one who has fixed their mind to rebel. He illustrated his point by flipping over to Luke 15. In Luke 15 you find the parable of the “Lost Sheep”, “The Lost Coin” and “The Prodigal Son”. The sheep wandered away, the coin was accidentally lost, but the Prodigal son made up his mind to leave his father. There is a difference between someone wandering away and someone who is determined to stay on the path they are on. I’m sure we all have tried to or heard from a friend how futile it is to try to change someone’s mind once their mind has been made up. In the first two parables the “wandering” seems to be a result of absentmindedness and both the shepherd and the owner of the coin go out of their way to find and restore what was lost. With the prodigal son, there was no searching. No one went after him. His mind was set on his path. And it is here that I find a moral that is so tough for me . The father didn’t just give up on him. He waited and looked for his son to return. His vigil was such that the very MOMENT he saw his son returning home he RAN to welcome him back. Sometimes when a person is bent on a path and all the pleading, patience and reasoning can’t get them to turn from the track they have decided to take, I feel like throwing up my hands and throwing in the towel. They are obviously determined to do what they want so why should I even try. And then I see God, our Father ….waiting. Waiting… for “Just the right time” (Rom. 5:6) to die for us. Waiting …not just to forgive but to forget “As far as the east is from the west” (Psalms 103:12) and I see the Father waiting…for the return of his son. And so, I will follow God’s example (always a good thing) and wait. And when the time comes I will be ready to forgive as God has forgiven us. And I will wait on God to work his will because his timing has been impeccable thus far. I am amazed and thankful for our patient Heavenly Father who waits for us. We may not always be able to change the path of someone’s choices, but we can wait for them to return and be ready to forgive and receive them the moment we see them turning back. God will forgive us as we forgive others. Soooooo……… on my mind…to be more like our patient Father in Heaven. I may not be able to change anything but I can wait with my Father….and know that his will WILL be done in the end.
Ashlyn Newburn
May 06, 2011 @ 10:50:09
Ashlyn, Thank you so much for these thoughts. My heart and mind are continually tormented by family members who have wandered away from the faith. Many of them knew the truth when they were young but have turned from their first faith/teaching for the gods of the world, money and material things, and for one aunt, the false representation of God in Islam. Your words have brought me some peace in the matter and all that I would add, I can’t remember if you already did, would be as we wait, to Pray. Wait and Pray for the return of those who choose to leave, while we pray council and guide those who have but strayed.
May 06, 2011 @ 23:13:52
Thank you for these words of wisdom. We are also stuck in our ways on some things, so we need to pray to be open minded and try to see the errors in our own self. Look for the errors in your own ways and ask God to help you see them.