LET PATIENCE HAVE HER PERFECT WORK.

September 13

James 1:4  

But let patience have her perfect work, 

that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. 

Patience supposes trials, and troubles; it signifies to remain under a burden; it is opposed to fretfulness, murmuring, haste, and despondency.

It produces submission, silence before God, and satisfaction with His dealings.

The Holy Spirit produces this grace by means of afflictions; tribulation worketh patience.

Every Christian is supposed to possess it, and is required to exercise it; yea, to let it have ITS PERFECT WORK.

To this End let us study the examples of suffering and patience set before us in the Bible;

let us take up and plead God’s promises;

let us remember that eternal love appointed to every trial and trouble;

that Jesus fore warned us of tribulation;

that he has set us an example which we are required to imitate.

Impatient dishonours our profession, and grieves the Spirit; patience benefits others and is of great advantage to ourselves.

Let us watch against temptation to impatience, and in patience possess our souls.

So shall we fill up our character as Christians; complete the evidence of our sincerity, and prove our principles divine.

Dear Lord, though bitter is the cup.

Thy gracious hand deals out to me,

I cheerfully would drink it up; -  

That cannot hurt which comes from Thee.

The gift of patience, Lord impart,

To calm and soothe my troubled heart.

James Smith