Do the Will of God

Heb 10:36 KJV For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

Heb 10:36  AMP For you have need of steadfast patience and endurance, so that you may perform and fully accomplish the will of God, and thus receive and  carry away [and enjoy to the full] what is promised

Living in an age of instant gratification, it is difficult for us to understand the concept of patience. In the post-digital era where information and services are on our fingertips, we have to go back to the old paths to learn the ways of God. All things spiritual come with patient expectation. God's gifts may be given in an instant, but His fruit may take years to come to maturity and sweetness. We may be saved in an instant when we truly believe. But the fact is, while we were saved in an instant (justified), We are still being saved (sanctified) and yet, We wait for the final redemption wherewe will be saved (i.e. Glorified).

Consider these verses again: For you need to have patience! I have often written about the need for the Christian to wait on the Lord before they receive certain blessing. Yet again, I want to stress today on the need to fulfill certain requirements before we come to enjoy the blessings that the Lord has given us. Pleasenote: I am not trying to stress on works for salvation! I believe fully that salvation is a free gift from God received by grace through faith. Yet, spiritual life is an endurance race than a 100m dash, and the way to prepare for a race is through patient training for years! No one has won a race because they decided one fine day to participate in it! It needs a decision to participate, adetermination to win, discipline to stay on training, humility to yield and change where it is necessary and dedication to suffer the process because they consider the reward to be worth it. This is the sum & substance of spiritual endurance too!

Patience is one of the fruits of the spirit. And in some of the older saints, I have seen this mature fruit where they wait with expectancy and much patience because they count Him faithful - He that has promised will surely bring it to pass. Finally, it boils down to our relation with the Lord. If we're right with the Lord and if we enjoy His presence, we will have no shortage of the fruit of patience in our lives!

Note again the words - After you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise! We want it all NOW! But God insists that it is only after we do the will of God that we can come into our promises. Dear friends, find His will for your life. Seek it with all your heart. For the will of God is your sanctification. Decide and desire to be purified progressively and to be made more conformed to His image. (and His nature). As we submit to this for our lives, we will see the great move of God bringing us closer to His precious promises for our lives.

Prayer: Father God, we know you're preparing us for eternity with you and we thank you for the grace that you have given us through your son Jesus. May our live reflect His goodness. Teach us to patiently endure our Christian lives that we may come to the reward that you have kept for us. Teach us to do your will and be in your will. If we have strayed, nudge us back to the center of your will. In Jesus name we pray. Amen!

God bless you!