James 5:8
Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
Read all of James Chapter 5 here
James here continues his teaching to the scattered believers to be patient in the face of trials and adversity, and to be patient and understanding that God has things under control.
He instructs them to stablish their hearts. Some translations use the word strengthen here. This word translated means to “make fast,””to establish,”or “to confirm.” What is it they are to establish their hearts in? They are to establish them in the hope and promise of The Lord’s return. The same word was used in Luke 9:51 as Jesus set his face steadfastly to return to Jerusalem, the entire time knowing that his death would result.
The believers James was writing to were facing intense persecution, trials, and troubles. We have seen quite a bit of discussion of that in the previous chapters. James is simply attempting to teach them to remember the basic fact that God has these trials, and all other things, firmly under his control. He wants them to understand that what they face in this life pales in comparison with the glory they will experience in God’s Kingdom in the future.
The gist of this lesson seems obvious, as James uses terms such as patience, endurance, and perseverance over and over in this section of his writing.
James 5:7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.
James 5:8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
James 5:10 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.
James 5:11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
Imagine, if you can, the patience and suffering Job endured as he watched his life shatter before his very eyes, yet he never lost his faith or love for God. Imagine, if you can, the patience of the Old Testament prophets as they preached to deaf ears and endured hate and persecution, yet they never lost their faith or love for God.
This lesson certainly applies to us. Perhaps it is more applicable to us, in the sense that compared to the believers of James’ time, Job, or the Old Testament prophets we really endure so little? How do we endure so little, yet as a church seem to have so little faith and love for God?
Truth in Palmyra 
January 26, 2017 at 07:35
Reblogged this on Talmidimblogging.
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January 26, 2017 at 07:45
Thanks brother Vincent
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January 26, 2017 at 09:17
You’re very welcome Brother Wally 😆
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January 26, 2017 at 09:15
Perhaps the expositors are correct that the letters to the seven churches in Revelation 2 & 3 not only represent conditions in local congregations during John’s lifetime, but also congregations down through the ages. If true, it does appear that many congregations are guilty of emulating the Laodicea.
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January 26, 2017 at 10:59
Yeah, much talk about all of that. You know, that book itself promises a blessing if we study it, so I can’t help but think it applies to today also. Especially in the letters to the churches. In fact, that may be my next writing series, is those very letters. I have posted some stuff in the past on it, and may revise and republish it. And many yesses to that final sentence my friend.
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January 26, 2017 at 13:07
You wrote…”Perhaps it is more applicable to us, in the sense that compared to the believers of James’ time, Job, or the Old Testament prophets we really endure so little? How do we endure so little, yet as a church seem to have so little faith and love for God?
Perhaps the answer to your question is found in James 1:2-4… My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
As a Body, in America anyways, we have become lazy. The world is unable to tell us from the dead. We are not putting ourselves out there in a way that is drawing attention to ourselves. We are playing it safe so as to avoid the trials. As a result, we are not letting patience have its perfect work. Without the trials there is no testing of faith. Without the testing of faith, there is no endured patience. Therefore, we are incomplete, lacking everything.
I am really enjoying this series. There is much to think about.
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January 26, 2017 at 13:11
Thanks Patrick, and you said something there that is near and dear to me lately, and I have felt the urge to holler it loudly, but also feel I need to choose my words carefully so as no not hurt some people I love.
I constantly hear at church from this person and that person about how Christians are persecuted. I call hogwash. Of course, they are….folks are literally dying. What I mean, though, is that very few in our own country are, mostly because we don’t even put ourselves out there! Just as you said!
Thank you, thank you, thank you. Now I know I am not the crazy one.
Well, maybe i am, but not on this one.
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January 26, 2017 at 13:35
lol…we can be crazy together. No, actually, I am working on a post along this line. The revival posts have not yet ended. I just took a brief time out to lick my wounds from the fall. I’m still ouching a little but feeling better day by day.
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January 26, 2017 at 13:55
Well, first, glad you feel some better. Sadly, things like that hurt way more as one ages. Just wait LOL.
You better hurry on the Revival ones, as Pastor Randy’s series will be ending in a few days, and I need them for the evenings!
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