Daily Bread_March 28, 2014

Title: There is Power in Being Patient

Text:

Acts 16:11-15 (NLT)
¹¹ We boarded a boat at Troas and sailed straight across to the island of Samothrace, and the next day we landed at Neapolis. ¹² From there we reached Philippi, a major city of that district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. And we stayed there several days. ¹³ On the Sabbath we went a little way outside the city to a riverbank, where we thought people would be meeting for prayer, and we sat down to speak with some women who had gathered there. ¹⁴ One of them was Lydia from Thyatira, a merchant of expensive purple cloth, who worshiped God. As she listened to us, the Lord opened her heart, and she accepted what Paul was saying. ¹⁵ She was baptized along with other members of her household, and she asked us to be her guests. “If you agree that I am a true believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my home.” And she urged us until we agreed.

Observation:

Those who teach, preach and share God’s Word come to realize that it takes patience to be a minister of the Word of God. The verse that I used on Wednesday was this reminder from the Apostle Paul.

2 Corinthians 6:4 (NLT)
In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind.

We are often in a hurry, but I remember when I was growing up hearing the adults say, “Haste makes waste”. There are times that you just need to hit the pause button, and just wait  on God to open the door to the hearts of people. Notice what Paul and his companions did; they waited on God.

Acts 16:12 (NLT)
From there we reached Philippi, a major city of that district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. And we stayed there several days. Yes, there is power in patience when you wait on God.

Acts 16:14 (NLT)
One of them was Lydia from Thyatira, a merchant of expensive purple cloth, who worshiped God. As she listened to us, the Lord opened her heart, and she accepted what Paul was saying.

Prayer:

Father God, thank You for giving us the grace gift of patience to do Your work; Lord, give us more because the needs are so great, and we are so weak. Father, I ask for more of Thee, and less of me.  In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

--

Matthew 4:4 (HCSB)
⁴ But He answered, “It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

Psalm 2:8 (HCSB)
⁸ Ask of Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance and the ends of the earth Your possession.

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/