Just a snippet of text here from Shane Claiborne's "Jesus for President." It's a phrase that just caught my attention as I made my way through about half of the book today ...
(page 100)
Sowers must not become discouraged easily. the disciples were constantly butting up against Jesus' thoughts about the way God's reign comes on earth. "It will never work that way!" you can hear the disciples thinking at almost every encounter. They thought the kingdom would come quickly, like the apocalypse, as almost all revolutionaries from Marx to Guevara have insisted. But Jesus' revolutionary patience claimed that another kingdom is coming - one that you can participate in but cannot build, a seed you can plan and water but cannot make grow. You can't drag the kingdom of God into the world. But you can't stop sowing the seeds either. Sow them everywhere!
Emphasis mine. It's that patience that seems to be a lost artform of sorts for me in particular at (lots of) times. The concept of a "revolutionary" patience just seems to emphasize how vital and necessary it is, though.
1 Comments
There are many of us who also need the patience of Jesus, me included. We long for the day He returns so that the aches of this world -- death, sickness, sadness -- will end. We have to hold steadfast until that time, as the author alludes, being faithful, encouraging one another in love, helping the weak, being patient with and kind to everyone, praying continually, giving thanks in all things and doing good (1 Thessalonians 5:12-22).
Don't dismay, you are not alone in your hope to be more patient. God is working on us, until it is complete in our Lord's return.
The above was discussed in our Koinonia circle last night. How timely is your post.