Have you ever heard the saying "patience is a virtue?" Having a degree of patience is something that is learned over time. We are not born with it. I have recently taken up fishing as a hobby and as a way to spend more time with one of my best friends. I have quickly learned that fishing requires a lot of patience. Generally we will put his boat in the water and stay on the river for anywhere from three to four hours, maybe more depending on the weather and the time of day. We will then take off in the boat up river, stop and then set up the trolling motor, and simply troll all the way back to certain spots, or to the boat ramp. Casting and reeling, casting and reeling, and casting and reeling are the main things we do. Sometimes we might get a nibble, and even catch a fish. But most of the time we are practicing patience. Asking ourselves, why aren't they biting? and you think we need to change bait? If you're like me, sometimes you cast into trees and get your hook hung and have to go get it out. But when we finally get a fish, it's all worth it. What about in our Christian lives. I've learned a few things about patience in my career as a minister.
1. As a minister and as Christians, all we can do is put the word out there for those who are lost. Me and my buddy spend hours on the river trying to figure out what will get the fish to bite. As a minister I spend hours, days, weeks, and sometimes months trying to figure out sermons and Bible class lessons that will get those who are lost to "bite." When I first began my ministry, I was concerned that if there were souls listening to my sermons or classes and never decided to be Baptized and they ended up passing away then I would have to answer to God for that. Every person I asked about this said the same thing. "As a minister, all you can do is put the word out there for people, they are free moral agents, they have the ability to choose whether to accept it or not." Sounds like fishing doesn't it? When I'm out fishing with my buddy all we can do is bait our hooks, cast and reel, and troll along. Will we always have a nibble or catch a fish? No, the fish are going to do what they want to do, that's just the way God made them, just like He created us with the ability to choose. All we can do when fishing is to stay patient and keep casting and reeling, and all we can do when talking to someone about the Gospel is to keep doing it. Never become discouraged because you feel like no one is listening. As the apostle Paul told the young preacher Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:16, "Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you." No matter how short your patience becomes, never give up!!
2. Be patient with those who doubt you. Are there times when you feel like the whole world is against you? One of the most common phrases I hear from outside the brotherhood is "you all think you're the only ones going to Heaven." How do you respond to this? Personally I say "no this is not true, you can get there, why don't you let me show you how?" This baffles people to no end, what was once an insult has now been turned around on them, with the potential to open a door for a Bible study. On Wednesday nights at Willow Avenue, Brother Ben Smith has been teaching the young professionals class. This past week we studied John's account of Jesus healing a blind man in John 9. I won't recount the entire story, but I encourage you to read it for yourself. However, from verse 13 to verse 34, the man has to constantly defend himself against the Pharisees. This took a level of patience. Some people would probably read this and say "why didn't he walk away?" Yes he could have and most people would have, but he was so moved by what had just happened to him. He wanted to tell the Pharisees and hope that they would be moved by it. Well they weren't, but the fact that he remained so patient and persistent with them is what I want you to take away from this. Do we turn tail and run when someone doubts us for what we believe? If so, you need to learn from this man. Be patient and let them doubt you, but make sure you use those interactions to "defend the faith" 1 Peter 3:15.
Friends, patience is required anytime you are dealing with people. We all have free will, meaning we are all going to do what we want to do, when we want to do it. As a minister I must have patience with my fellow man. As Christians we all must have patience with our fellow men. All we can do is keep casting and reeling. Casting the good news of the gospel out there for those who are lost, and hopefully reeling in souls. Does it take patience? Yes, but in the end it's worth it. Friends God loves you, I love you, and the Chestnut Mound church of Christ loves you, why not study God's word with us sometime!!
In Him,
Carver Moore
We would be honored for you to join us for worship at the Chestnut Mound church of Christ.
Our service times are as follows:
Sunday Morning Bible study: 10 am
Sunday morning worship: 11 am
Sunday evening worship: 5 pm
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