2023_09_13 Insight Post- Rusty Coram
This week’s reading- 2 Kings 24-25, Micah 1
Patience can sometimes be misleading. Sometimes what comes across as being patient is really a fear to confront. Like a parent who constantly warns a child about bad behavior but never disciplines because of what they think the child’s reaction will be. Or a boss who points out substandard work but to avoid conflict, never institutes a Performance Improvement Plan. Other times what masquerades as patience is apathy or inattention – being blissfully unaware or unconcerned. None of these examples reflect patience. Patience is an attitude that comes from being fully aware of things that aren’t as they should be while working hard to bring things to a healthy place and deliberately holding off on disciplinary action until it is absolutely necessary. Patience doesn’t react but it does act.
God is patient. In our reading, we see how over and over He explains what is wrong and why, and at the same time warns His people and gives them multiple opportunities to repent and change their ways. But, because of His deep love, God will not delay in bringing justice to bear forever. In 2 Kings 24-25 and Micah 1, we see God punishing the longstanding rebellion, unfaithfulness, and disobedience of those who claim to follow Him. In Micah, we read that He responded this way: “For my people’s wound is too deep to heal.” Micah 1:9 (NLT)
Some may not like to think that God would respond like this. They might prefer that He be like the parent who warns and warns but never follows through on consequences. But that is not love, and that is not the way of our Heavenly Father. He urges us to see what is true and when we are off base, He is ready to forgive and restore, when we humbly admit our fault and repent. Here is a promise that all who follow Him should keep in mind:
“I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires. 4 They will say, “What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created…The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed but wants everyone to repent. 10 But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment.” 2 Peter 3:3-4, 9–10 (NLT)
Rusty Coram
Senior Pastor