James 5: 7 So be patient, brethren, [as you wait] till the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits expectantly for the precious harvest from the land. [See how] he keeps up his patient [vigil] over it until it receives the early and late rains. 8 So you also must be patient. Establish your hearts [strengthen and confirm them in the final certainty], for the coming of the Lord is very near. (AMP)
I like Tony Dungee's devotion for today in which he states "My job was to coach, and it was God's to figure out the rest" in response to rumors about his potential firing from Tampa Bay. So often I hear people planning their careers, or paths at church. We have "visioning" conferences and sit around and brainstorm about what we want to look like in 1, 5, or 10 years. Don't get me wrong, goals are important, but only when they are in response to a call or guidance from God (Pr 19:11). So, James implores us not to plan, scheme, or try to arrange our lives on earth, but to "establish our hearts" for the coming of the Lord.
How about it? Am I planning for a better future and giving God lip-service or am I truly dedicated to following God. I heard on an Emmaus walk a couple of weeks ago that humans typically view ourselves as physical creatures having a spiritual experience. This view is incorrect in that we are made in God's image, therefore we are spiritual beings having a physical experience. That simple phrase helps me keep this life in perspective. How about you? Is God the context through which you live your life, or do you keep him in a "to be opened only on Sunday's and Wednesday evenings" box?
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