“But do not overlook this one fact, beloved… the Lord is patient toward you” (2 Peter 3:9).

Is there anyone here this morning who cannot benefit from greater patience? I know I can. In our “hurry up” world we frequently find ourselves in situations when our patience is stretched. It happens while driving, in the check-out line, with our kids, at work, when depending on others for help, and on and on. No doubt, we regularly find ourselves in circumstances when greater patience is needed. It’s a daily occurrence, is it not?

With that in mind, the words of Peter convicted me greatly this past week. Simply put, God has been, and continues to be, incredibly patient with me. He sees my shortcomings and struggles. Yet he never gives up, because in Peter’s words, “The Lord is patient towards you.”

In that light, I wonder if you’ve ever stopped to consider the specific areas in your life in which God has demonstrated his patience with you. Each of us can identify (likely in an instant) the character issues we struggle with. Perhaps for some of us, the main issue we struggle with is our lack of patience. Yet when we consider God’s patience toward us, how dare we be impatient with others? This is a very practical matter for each of us to consider. In that light, here’s what I suggest you do.

Each time you feel impatient toward others, would you be intentional in bringing to mind an area in your life where God continues to be patient with you? For example, the next time your son or daughter “tries your patience,” thereby making you frustrated or angry, simply think of the last time you “messed up” and how God demonstrated his patience toward you. The next time you choose the wrong line in the supermarket, the slow moving line, recall how long God waited for you to sense his call to return to daily prayer and Bible reading. The next time something unexpected interrupts what you planned on, think of the many times you pulled something unexpected, necessitating God’s ongoing patience and longsuffering toward you.

Think of it this way. God’s patience toward us is intended for us to demonstrate the same attitude toward others. In other words, our impatience toward others is a sure sign that we’ve lost sight of God’s patience toward us. This is a tough one for us to work on. But I believe we can grow in our patience as we intentionally recall that “The Lord is patient toward you.” Start now, will you?

“What do you want me to do for you?” (Matthew 20:32)
 
My guess is that at one time or another each of us has had a clerk in a store or someone on the other end of the phone say something like this: “How may I help you?” Businesses must be customer friendly or else they lose business. While attending two different pastor conferences over the past two weeks, I spent a total of five nights in two different motels. Each went out of its way to determine if my needs were met. On more than one occasion, motel employees asked if there was anything they could do for me. That’s good customer service, is it not? That’s what makes the question I cited above very interesting. Let me set the context for you.

Jesus had just completed several rigorous days of healing, teaching, travelling and meeting with people. At this point in the narrative, there had been absolutely no break in his hectic schedule. In addition, he had just reminded the disciples of his impending death (for the third time). I’d say he had a lot on his mind, wouldn’t you?

Now on top of all that, he was on the verge of returning to Jerusalem, an event that would set in motion the circumstances surrounding the last few days of his life. At that precise moment, two blind men were setting along the roadside. When they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David.” They were rebuked by the crowd, only to cry out a second time, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David.” It was at that moment Jesus asked, “What do you want me to do for you?” You know their response. They said, “Lord, let our eyes be opened.” The text tells us that “immediately they received their sight.”

As I’ve meditated on this passage, and Jesus’ response to the cries of the blind men, it struck me that meeting the needs of others, no matter what form it takes, rarely comes at a convenient time. How many times has someone asked for your assistance and, at least in your mind you’ve thought, “Not now-I can’t-I’m too busy-This is not a good time.” We’re all guilty of that, are we not?

Jesus’ response shows us that there’s never a time when busyness or inconvenience should prevent us from acting to serve others. Jesus himself said that “the Son of man did not come to be served, but to serve.” Jesus consistently demonstrated a servant’s heart. He put the needs of others above his own, even to the point of going to the cross to help those who could never help themselves.

Jesus asked, “What do you want me to do for you?” No matter how busy or inconvenienced we may be, that’s not a bad question for us to ask of others. Would you agree?

“Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands” (Isaiah 49:16).

Would you believe that the tattoo industry is the 6th fastest growing industry in the United States today? Current statistics point out that 36% of adults between 18-25 years of age; and 40% between 26-40 years of age have at least one tattoo. In 2008, the American Academy of Dermatology reported that roughly one quarter of the American population has at least one tattoo. Yes indeed, tattooing is big business.
 
In that light, are you surprised to learn that God has a tattoo? According to Isaiah, God has your name and mine engraved on the palm of his hand. The word “engraved” means to inscribe or to mark out. God has the names of his children marked out and inscribed on His palm.

How many of you have written a phone number on your palm? We do that so we won’t forget. Well, although it’s impossible for God to forget anything, I derive great comfort from knowing that He cares about me so much that my name is written on His palm.

The above passage particularly caught my attention this past week as I listened to several friends share the trials and pain they were experiencing; some due to wounds inflicted through past events, others through current circumstances that seem overwhelmingly painful. On more than one occasion, I’ve heard people say, “I feel as if God has forgotten me.” Likely we’ve all felt that way at one time or another.

Is it not of great comfort to know that no matter how difficult, unexpected, troublesome and painful our circumstances might be at any given moment, God does not forget us because our names are tattooed on his hand? That speaks of his concern, care and interest in every event that enters our lives. Further, given his sovereignty over everything that enters our lives, the things that cause us uncertainty and pain have already crossed through his hands, the very palms that have our names engraved upon them.

Do you find yourself in a troubling season of life at present? Is there a degree of uncertainty and doubt regarding whether God cares about you and your circumstances? Does your future look uncertain and your past bring only painful memories? Trust me in this. God knows. He knows because your name is tattooed on his palm. He has not and will not forget you and your circumstances. That’s how much He is interested in you!

“Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment” (Proverbs 18:1).

I’m certain that over the course of your life experience you’ve known people who you would identify as “loners” versus those who prefer to be around other people. Which category do you fit into? Are you a “loner” or a “people person”?

Well, would it surprise you to learn that God does not approve of “loners” as it relates to the Christian experience? In fact, I think the scriptures go so far as to show us that being a “loner” as a Christian displeases God and is dangerous to one’s spiritual health. Take a careful look at the passage cited above to see what I mean.

King Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, expressed how God views those who isolate themselves from other followers of God. He accused them of being selfish and of lacking good judgment. Would you agree that a good definition of selfishness is seeking one’s own desires as opposed to submitting to what God tells us is best for us. It may be hard to hear, but it’s true nonetheless. Those who call themselves Christians and stay away from the gathering of God’s people are selfish; selfish in that they are doing what they want as opposed to what God wants for them (which is always for their good).

But there’s more. Sound judgment tells us that in order to grow more like Jesus Christ in the way we live, regular contact with other Christians is important. There is indeed a special mechanism that surrounds the gathering of God’s people. It can’t be duplicated no matter how much time one spends alone reading the Bible or praying. The writer of Hebrews put it this way: “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another and all the more…” Notice the phrase “one another”? It occurs twice in the passage. It implies spending time with other Christians in the context of “meeting together.”

Can you see how practical this becomes for us? How are you doing as it relates to spending time with God’s people? Is church a regular habit or an occasional event for you? Are you a loner or part of the “meeting together” that the writer of Hebrews made reference to?

Let me be direct with you. God does not approve of, nor will he bless, those who isolate themselves and seek their own desires; and further, He does not bless loners who “break out against all sound judgment.” Being part of God’s community of believers is not an option for us. For our own good, we are to fight the desire to be a loner and pursue instead regular association with God’s people. Hard words, but healthy; would you agree?