Bible Readings and Devotion for November 5, 2020
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Devotion for November 5, 2020
By Pastor David Tinker
People frequently share with me about their struggles with waiting for things. This may be waiting for life to improve. It may be waiting for the situation to come to a completion. It may be waiting for a person to make a change or decision. These individuals often note that they are praying for patience.
Patience is a good thing. In our culture we often say, “Patience is a virtue.” We also know that it is one of the Fruit of the Spirit noted by Paul in Galatians 5:22-23. It is an outgrowth of our connection with God, the Holy Spirit.
Whenever I hear of this plan to pray for patience, I am reminded of a greater thing. This is central to who we are in faith as we follow the way of Jesus. The thing is love. I’m not talking about romance or warm feelings. What I am noting is the type of love which is self-giving care which benefits someone else. This is the type of love which is noted by Jesus in the Gospels. He calls on us to love one another, as we have loved us. He calls on us to love our neighbor as ourselves. He calls us to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.
St. Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 13:4a we read, “Love is patient…” When we feel we need to pray for patience, I suggest we go deeper. I suggest we take the prayer advice of Paul in 1 Thessalonians 3:12, where he writes, “And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we abound in love for you.” He is praying for great love. So, when we feel a need for patience, pray for more love.
Prayer
Almighty God, you have given us grace at this time to make our common prayer to you, and you have promised through your Son that where two or three are gathered together in his name, you will be in the midst of them. Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us, granting us, in this world, knowledge of your truth and, in the age to come, life everlasting. Amen
Martin Luther Lutheran Church 