Admittedly, I am not the most patient person in the world! For some reason the Lord threw out a test to me in the last week. A visit to any Doctor’s office is always a small test, but this time it became a little more in my thinking, than a simple waiting.
I was due at the hospital for a “procedure”, (which I interpret to mean it is not major surgery) and it was scheduled for 3.00 p.m. After we asked a few questions we ascertained that they were running behind schedule. At 8.00 my doctor came in and said: “I am going to do the surgery very shortly. However, because of your age (87 in July) I suggest you do not go home tonight. If you have any complications I would rather you be here than at home. However, it is up to you. If I keep you overnight I will throw you out in the parking lot first thing in the morning.”
They arranged for better accommodations—especially the bed. Ere long I was coming “around” an hour or so later. God gave patience as I over-worked HIS LOVE and found it sufficient, in spite of proclivity to impatience.
Then! I began to think about the Doctor. I wonder how he feels about having been here since before I entered the scene; and he still had me to operate on?
Now, let us take a look at Romans 5:3. Paul, the Apostle, was telling the Roman Christians about where their faith, that leads to peace, and hope and then on to “the glory of God”! The Authorized Version reads, “tribulation worketh patience”. The New American Standard translates it in a more updated language, but with the same meaning: “Tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”
So here we are, in my mind, justified in being impatient; and I hear the Holy Spirit of God saying: “Ted! I am teaching you PATIENCE! Perseverance! PROVEN CHARACTER! Hope! Remain teachable!”
-Ted
ETCetera 