忍耐到底
雅各书五章7至11节
7弟兄们哪，你们要忍耐，直到主来。看哪，农夫忍耐等候地里宝贵的出产，直到得了秋雨春雨。
8你们也当忍耐，坚固你们的心，因为主来的日子近了。
9弟兄们，你们不要彼此埋怨，免得受审判。看哪，审判的主站在门前了。
10弟兄们，你们要把那先前奉主名说话的众先知当作能受苦能忍耐的榜样。
11那先前忍耐的人，我们称他们是有福的。你们听见过约伯的忍耐，也知道主给他的结局，明显主是满心怜悯，大有慈悲。
信息分享
作为信徒，你最想求神赐你甚么？求神赐下更大的能力去为祂工作？求神让你有大的勇气去为祂作见证？求神赐你更大的爱，去爱你身边的人？又或是，求神让你赚更多的钱，让你可以奉献更多，去支持教会的工作？
信徒确实需要求这一切；可是，雅各在这里提醒我们，信徒还必须求神赐予忍耐的心。信徒一直盼望的事，将会在基督再来的时候便实现；但如今在等候之际，信徒必须忍耐。
他举了两个例子来说明这个教训。农夫播种之后，当然要辛勤地耕种，但与此同时，他却要等候谷物的生长，到成熟之后才能收割。
此外，雅各还举了旧约的圣徒为例，约伯更是当中的佼佼者。约伯经历了人生的惨变，受尽心身的折磨，但经过痛苦之后，他才渐渐明白，一切经历的背后都有神的心意。同样地，对于今天发生在我们身上的事情，我们可能无法理解，但是，当耶稣再来的时候，一切的谜团便可以解开。
在这个等候的时刻，我们纵然未能看清前路，我们却要以信心去忍耐，相信神的计划必然成就。天父必引领我们的前路──而且，雅各在第11节提醒我们紧记，我们的天父是满心怜悯，大有慈悲的。
你知道这首歌吗？
终有一天，一切都解开谜团；
终有一天，祂与我将面对面；
终有一天，我的罪全获赦免；
终有一天，天堂之门将显现。
牢记：
主再来的日子已经近了。
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.