December 1, 2015
James 5:7-11
Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door! Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
IT’S TIME TO REMEMBER THE FUTURE
It’s time that we come to terms with this fact: the return of the Lord is a good thing. Is it not? But you say, there are so many people I know who are not ready for this—the end of all things broken and the fulfillment of all things made new. And so, the Advent question of questions: What about these people you love? Have you spoken to them concerning the end of all things broken and the fulfillment of all things made new? And how about you? Are you ready? If not, there is only one good reason.
It is because you are not sure the return of the Lord is a good thing.
Think about it. The return of the Lord means: No more child slavery. No more sex trade. No more cancer. No more drug addiction. No more tears. No more terrorism. No more war. No more starvation. No more wheel chairs. The sheen of newness everywhere. The contagion of gladness spreading like wildfire.
All of this and more only begins to describe the extremity of the will of God, which is the totality of his love.
Waiting
I will watch and listen;
I will work and pray.
The extremity of Your will
is the totality of Love.
From my winter window,
I look to the yard
covered in fresh snow.
I recall two goldfinches
playing tag on the sunflowers
as I planted
those seedling redbuds
at the edge of our yard
last summer.
Worry eased from my mind
with each small, careful
shovelful of earth.
The totality of Your will
is the extremity of Love.
I will watch and work;
I will pray and listen.
Now the cold has set in
and the sunflowers are gone
and I say to the Lord only this:
there is so much I can’t do
and some that I can.
Help me do and help me wait.
Lord who is near
and full of mercy,
if patience is presence,
make me present to now,
to this bleak sky.
Give me the patience
of the goldfinch,
of the child who delights
in plain blades of grass,
in the simple witness of snow.
—Daniel Bowman Jr.
NOTE TO READERS:
In case you missed the update Sunday here’s the plan. James was the not the best idea for Advent. We will begin that Jan 1. This week, I will be running the first week of Not Yet Christmas: It’s Time for Advent, a book I put together last year. If you would like to continue through Christmas I am inviting you to get your copy of the book here (SoftCover or Digital) Use the code DTADVENT for a 25% discount. And the offer stands, if you can’t afford a book at this time email me and I will be glad to send you a copy on the house.
THE QUESTIONS
- So how about it? Is the return of the Lord a good thing or something to be dreaded?
- Have you spoken to those you love concerning the end of all things broken and the fulfillment of all things made new?
- I will watch and work. I will pray and listen. I will . . . . . (finish the sentence in your own words)
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J.D. Walt serves as Seedbed’s Sower in Chief. jd.walt@seedbed.com.