Be patient, therefore, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. Behold, 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 at hand. James 5:7, 8 (New American Standard Bible)
I was talking with a couple of good friends yesterday over lunch. We discussed at length how many messages today aim to cause guilt and a bleak outlook. Hopelessness is the underlying current of life on Planet Earth. When, Lord Jesus, are you coming back to bring hope and restore the earth from the curse?
Interestingly today’s verse has a parallel in lettuce. My Uncle Albert lived a lot of his years in Alaska. He used to tell me that on a quiet summer night in the Land of the Midnight Sun one could stand in a lettuce patch and hear the heads of lettuce grow. This story amazed me as a kid. “What did it sound like?” I asked. “It popped and crackled,” was his answer. Whether he was telling me the truth or pulling my juvenile leg I’ll never know. But if it’s true it sure took a lot of patience to stand in a patch of lettuce and wait to hear it grow. As I await the return of our Lord it seems at times like I am that farmer standing amidst what I have planted. It’s taking an awfully long time and I haven’t heard anything yet. I long for Christ to return and sort out everything in heaven and earth and make it right for eternity.
I’m still not absolutely sold on Uncle Albert’s lettuce story but I am convinced of the certainty of Christ’s return. Sometimes it seems like what I plant isn’t growing at all or that I will never reap a harvest of patient endurance. But as I look at what Jesus said would be going on in the world before His return (Matthew Chapters 24 & 25) I am more and more assured His words are true. I can determine through current events that His appearing is very close. What a blessed hope and unfaltering encouragement. He will return again and restore all things to Himself so lettuce all trust in that.
Ken
www.devotionstoday.blogspot.com
I was talking with a couple of good friends yesterday over lunch. We discussed at length how many messages today aim to cause guilt and a bleak outlook. Hopelessness is the underlying current of life on Planet Earth. When, Lord Jesus, are you coming back to bring hope and restore the earth from the curse?
Interestingly today’s verse has a parallel in lettuce. My Uncle Albert lived a lot of his years in Alaska. He used to tell me that on a quiet summer night in the Land of the Midnight Sun one could stand in a lettuce patch and hear the heads of lettuce grow. This story amazed me as a kid. “What did it sound like?” I asked. “It popped and crackled,” was his answer. Whether he was telling me the truth or pulling my juvenile leg I’ll never know. But if it’s true it sure took a lot of patience to stand in a patch of lettuce and wait to hear it grow. As I await the return of our Lord it seems at times like I am that farmer standing amidst what I have planted. It’s taking an awfully long time and I haven’t heard anything yet. I long for Christ to return and sort out everything in heaven and earth and make it right for eternity.
I’m still not absolutely sold on Uncle Albert’s lettuce story but I am convinced of the certainty of Christ’s return. Sometimes it seems like what I plant isn’t growing at all or that I will never reap a harvest of patient endurance. But as I look at what Jesus said would be going on in the world before His return (Matthew Chapters 24 & 25) I am more and more assured His words are true. I can determine through current events that His appearing is very close. What a blessed hope and unfaltering encouragement. He will return again and restore all things to Himself so lettuce all trust in that.
Ken
www.devotionstoday.blogspot.com
