Got up, looked out and the weather was warm and dry. I drove to work and the snow was covering the ground. It seems like two places close together could not be totally different in weather, but they are.
The picture shows a frozen raindrop on a branch and a bud of a leaf or flower ready to shoot up.
Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains.
Whilst we can be in a state of joy there can be people around us suffering. They are perhaps in a state of stasis, or “frozenness”. Their joy is far from what it could be, but in the letter of James (Jesus’ brother) he cautions those people to be patient, for your joy shall return like the frozen raindrop will soon thaw and the bud on the tree will soon erupt into life in the early spring and show its colours again.
God works His plans out in due time, but we are also called upon to support those in need, as I said yesterday, bear the cross of those who have burdens. We shed our own burdens onto Jesus and in turn bear the burdens of others.
Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.
Without the hard winter, there would be no spring. I know that many seeds require a period of cold to germinate and I have in the past put seeds in the fridge – its called cold stratification for any one interested.
Our hearts need to be tested in order to germinate and bear fruits. This is what I feel I get out of this part of James’ letter. We must have patient, encourage one another, bear each others burdens as one, and the coming of the Lord into our hearts will awaken us to eternal joy.
I pray the warmth of Jesus enters your hearts as the cold winter months continue.
Amen
As ever, with my blessings
Graham
365 Exhortations 