Tuesday, November 21, 2023
Lazy, timid, and weak – It seems Paul
has begun the work of caring for the kindergarten of Christianity. And yet, who hasn’t been lazy, timid, or weak? These are common ailments of character, and
we humans are subject to character flaws.
But notice how Paul then modulates to patience. That is the needed ingredient in caring for
the weak links in character or community.
One of the privileges of being a
pastor to a congregation is the holy ground of trust, where church members
commit their problems and trials to your keeping in prayer. A pastor is told heart secrets that would scorch
the paint off nursery walls, and depress the most positive people.
In 2005 I moved from being a Baptist
pastor to the Methodist tribe. Part of
that process was in cooperation with a committee charged with overseeing and
encouraging me during the shift. They
were kind, helpful, and encouraging to a nearly 60-year-old who had already
served 25 years in pastoral ministry. However,
after one session their assessment was that I needed to wait another year
before being confirmed in the process of elder-status, because you have too
much sadness in your life. I
tried to accept their guidance graciously, but this was one time I had a tough
time following Paul’s admonition to be patient!
Inside I was steaming…too much sadness??? Too much sadness? I’m a pastor; people tell me all the sadness
of their lives…OF COURSE I’ve got TOO MUCH SADNESS!
In retrospect, I’m repentant of that
inner response. I needed Paul’s warnings
at that point. Their assessment may have
fallen short, but instead of humbly considering their earnest care for my inner
peace, I bristled; I had no patience. I missed
the mark by a wider margin than their assessment. In my impatience and anger I was not (as Paul
advised) thankful in ALL circumstances.
Sometimes I think I have not grown
much in the patience department. This
week I was walking in the parking lot from the gas pump to the store when a
young man almost backed over me. My Mother
would have bristled to see the dance her youngest boy did to escape being
flattened…and Dad would’ve had a great laugh and story to tell his buddies. I quickly (and loudly) told the young driver what
a four-thousand-pound SUV can do to an unprotected human body, and how he
should look before he backs-up. The young
man humbly apologized to the irate old preacher. I was immediately convicted of my
inappropriate anger and impatience. As a
pastor I have taught, counselled, and (at times) prided myself on being
patient. In truth, I need to sit in dust
and ashes more often.
After reflecting and praying about my
impatience, I’ve decided to change my way of viewing my circumstances from
reacting…to pro-acting. Reacting is
acting in response to how you’re treated, or how the circumstances affect
you. Proactive is deciding beforehand
to act in love and joyful thankfulness, no-matter what happens. I will look-for, and hopefully find, God’s
hand of lovingkindness, however the circumstances unfold before me. I know this will be difficult (at first), but
I’m also certain the long view will see the benefit of inner peace for me, and
opportunities to serve God’s Kingdom.
For You Today
We live in a hurried,
pressure-driven, and often angry world.
Pray for the calming, joyful influence of patience to take the
temperature down a bit; that is something we can all use.
There are about 2,600 devotional posts and 400 sermons
in the Rocky Road library.
Today’s title Image from Pixabay.com
Images without citation are in public domain or cited
via weblinks.
Unless noted, Scripture quoted from NLT©
