忍耐到底
雅各書五章7至11節
7弟兄們哪，你們要忍耐，直到主來。看哪，農夫忍耐等候地裡寶貴的出產，直到得了秋雨春雨。
8你們也當忍耐，堅固你們的心，因為主來的日子近了。
9弟兄們，你們不要彼此埋怨，免得受審判。看哪，審判的主站在門前了。
10弟兄們，你們要把那先前奉主名說話的眾先知當作能受苦能忍耐的榜樣。
11那先前忍耐的人，我們稱他們是有福的。你們聽見過約伯的忍耐，也知道主給他的結局，明顯主是滿心憐憫，大有慈悲。
信息分享
作為信徒，你最想求神賜你甚麼？求神賜下更大的能力去為祂工作？求神讓你有大的勇氣去為祂作見證？求神賜你更大的愛，去愛你身邊的人？又或是，求神讓你賺更多的錢，讓你可以奉獻更多，去支持教會的工作？
信徒確實需要求這一切；可是，雅各在這裡提醒我們，信徒還必須求神賜予忍耐的心。信徒一直盼望的事，將會在基督再來的時候便實現；但如今在等候之際，信徒必須忍耐。
他舉了兩個例子來說明這個教訓。農夫播種之後，當然要辛勤地耕種，但與此同時，他卻要等候穀物的生長，到成熟之後才能收割。
此外，雅各還舉了舊約的聖徒為例，約伯更是當中的佼佼者。約伯經歷了人生的慘變，受盡心身的折磨，但經過痛苦之後，他才漸漸明白，一切經歷的背後都有神的心意。同樣地，對於今天發生在我們身上的事情，我們可能無法理解，但是，當耶穌再來的時候，一切的謎團便可以解開。
在這個等候的時刻，我們縱然未能看清前路，我們卻要以信心去忍耐，相信神的計劃必然成就。天父必引領我們的前路──而且，雅各在第11節提醒我們緊記，我們的天父是滿心憐憫，大有慈悲的。
你知道這首歌嗎？
終有一天，一切都解開謎團；
終有一天，祂與我將面對面；
終有一天，我的罪全獲赦免；
終有一天，天堂之門將顯現。
牢記：
主再來的日子已經近了。
WHAT IS OUR GREATEST NEED?
James 5: 7-11
7 Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord.See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain.
8 You also be patient.Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.
9 Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned.Behold, the Judge is standing at the door!
10 My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience.
11 Indeed we count them blessed who endure.You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.
Message
What would you say are some of our greatest needs as Christians? Some would say we need more prayer, or more power, or more boldness, or more love, or even more money to help support God's work.
All those things are needed, but here James says that one of our greatest needs is patience. He says that everything we have longed for will come to pass when Christ returns. Until then, we need to be patient.
He gives us two examples, both of which point out the same thing. The farmer sows the seed and then all he can do, besides caring for the crop, is to wait for it to grow and ripen ready for harvest.
Then James reminds us of the Old Testament prophets and saints, particularly Job. What happened to Job? Do you remember all the troubles he had? It wasn't until after it was over, that Job began to understand why God allowed it all. It may not be until the time when Jesus comes again that we will understand some of the reasons behind the circumstances of our lives.
In the meantime we need to be patient and trust God to work out his plans and purposes even if we cannot see the way ahead. It is our heavenly Father who is guiding our lives and, as James says in verse 11, God is full of compassion and mercy.
Do you know the words of this song?
'Someday He'll make it plain to me;
Someday when I his face shall see.
Someday from sin I shall be free;
Someday I shall understand.'
REMEMBER:
The coming of the Lord is drawing near.