Advent 2024: Days Fourteen and Fifteen
Advent Day Fourteen: If Jesus Had Not Come, We Would Not Know Fruitful Patience
In the beginning, people enjoyed the art of patience. The perfect timing of the King kept them steadfast in the delight of waiting on and for Him. But the people rebelled and were no longer fortitudinous. Waiting became a bane.
What if Jesus had not come? We would be forever restless, cowardly, rushing, ruining, and kicking against His plan.
But Jesus did come!
"But when the fullness of time had come,
God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law…”
to redeem those who were under the law,
so that we might receive adoption as sons.”
Galatians 4:4-5
If we think of patience as waiting in a long line we don’t want to be in, we’ve missed the wonder of this fruit of the Spirit. It’s an invitation to bask steadfastly in the perfect timing of our King, to endure and refuse to bow to another. It’s a privilege with much reward.
“…so that you may not be sluggish,
but imitators of those
who through faith and patience
inherit the promises.”
Hebrews 6:12
“…but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint.”
Isa 40:31
“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness,
but is patient toward you,
not wishing that any should perish,
but that all should reach repentance.”
2 Peter 3:9
Romans 2:4 brings our warning,
“Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness
and forbearance and patience,
not knowing that God's kindness
is meant to lead you to repentance?”
Lord, help us not to presume on Your patience, but rather choose to wait steadfastly on You and for You with joy.
Advent Day Fifteen: If Jesus Had Not Come, We Would Not Know His Kindness
Once upon a time, people knew only kindness. God created universes and people to enjoy Him and all He had made. But the people repaid Him with treachery, and fell prey to the cruel grasp of the evil one.
What if Jesus had not come? We would only endure cruelty, and never know the wonder of kindness.
But Jesus did come!
“But when the goodness and loving kindness
of God our Savior appeared,
he saved us,
not because of works done by us in righteousness,
but according to his own mercy,
by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit…”
Titus 3:4-5
Luke 6:35 tells us He is kind to the unthankful and evil. Not tolerant – that would be unkind. Jesus came, suffered, and died to save us, while we were still rebels. He put His kindness on display,
“…and raised us up with him and seated us with him
in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
so that in the coming ages
he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace
in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”
Ephesians 2:6-7
We can endure cruelty, because we know God is only kind continually. His kindness is one of my favorite attributes. So He tells His own,
“Be kind to one another,
tenderhearted,
forgiving one another,
as God in Christ forgave you.
Ephesians 4:32
Our warning comes from Romans 11:22,
“Note then the kindness and the severity of God:
severity toward those who have fallen,
but God's kindness to you,
provided you continue in his kindness.
Otherwise you too will be cut off.”
Those who endure to the end are those who are truly in Christ. Don’t toy with His kindness. Lord, may many choose Your kindness and receive salvation in Jesus.