Let Patience Have His Perfect Work
Dana emphasizes the importance of patience in the Christian life, drawing from the Epistle of James. He highlights that patience is not merely about enduring trials but is a deeper work of perfecting character through suffering. Dana reflects on his past struggles with the book of James, ultimately discovering its profound message about the necessity of patience in light of the Lord's return. He points out that true faith must bear fruit through works and that love among believers should be perfected without partiality. Dana uses the examples of Job and the prophets to illustrate how suffering can lead to a deeper understanding of God's character and a more profound patience. He stresses that patience is a process intertwined with trials and promises, ultimately leading to spiritual maturity. Dana encourages believers to seek a deeper relationship with God through prayer and fellowship, asserting that true perfection comes from a combination of hearing the Word and living it out. He concludes with a prayer for the church to be prepared for the Lord's coming, embodying the patience of Christ.
Outline of Main Points
- Importance of gathering in fellowship and studying God's Word.
- Patience as a key theme in the book of James.
- Personal struggles with understanding the book of James.
- Patience as a process of perfecting character through trials.
- Examples of Job and the prophets illustrating patience in suffering.
- Faith must bear fruit through works and love among believers.
- True perfection involves a relationship with God through prayer and fellowship.
- Call for the church to embody the patience of Christ in preparation for His return.
7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. 8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. 9 Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door. 10 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. 11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
