Tag Archives: Patience

Could Not Say It Better

March 16, 2025 A Labour of Love Leave a comment

photo of a turtle swimming underwater — Photo by Belle Co on Pexels.com

A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of reading on social an article by Benjamin Knight who posted on the Reformation Resurgence. In these troubling days, his words struck me and I could not get them out of my mind. Oh how many need to hear these words and advice in their walking with other Christians and with humanity.

How we long for God’s truth and long to live for Him, looking forward to an eternal life serving Him. Do the scriptures change you when you read them? Have you taken the words to heart and understood who you are standing before Him? I cannot tell you how convicted I am after each sermon when gospel truth is correctly taught. In fact, I leave for home pondering with great wonder at how the Lord prompted one of his beloved shepherds to speak the truth that I personally needed to hear. I reflect on my own sins, my own failures, my own near miss temptations and sit in awe that He has given me truth so that I may repent, ask for forgiveness and do better than I have. I do not take the words of scripture lightly…. I accept them with great care knowing that living for Christ and in Christ is not easy and is a minute by minute decision. Out of which comes either success or failure. If I stay faithful to Him, I will never be lost. While I may wander, He will always find me and place me on the straight path.

Did you know that a puffer fish can inflate itself multiple times over its lifetime to survive? Do we as humans have unlimited “puffer” power or do we die slowly each time we puff ourselves up with our own context of “doctrinal truths” that fit our selfish wants and needs? Do we have such pride in our biblical knowledge that we feel we would rather win debates and argue rather than to take everything to our Holy Father in prayer? Do we thrive in doctrinal truths or do we enjoy walking around wearing crowns of pride to support our own agendas and our own desires?

Scripture is clear the responsibility a Christian should have in their walks with Christ:

Matthew 16:24-28. Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. [25] For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. [26] For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? [27] For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done. [28] Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

Jeremiah 17:7-8. [7] “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,
whose trust is the LORD.
[8] He is like a tree planted by water,
that sends out its roots by the stream,
and does not fear when heat comes,
for its leaves remain green,
and is not anxious in the year of drought,
for it does not cease to bear fruit.”

Matthew 7:1-5. [1] “Judge not, that you be not judged. [2] For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. [3] Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? [4] Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? [5] You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.

Matthew 7:21-23 [21] “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. [22] On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ [23] And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

I have said many times over one of the best studies I had the honor and privilege to participate in was going over a book by Matthew Henry. The Quest for Meekness and Quietness of Spirit helps one become more aware of shortfalls that go along with humanity and of all sinners alike, including Christians. Bringing forth scriptures and doctrinal truths to help understand IN CONTEXT humility and the understanding of what that means. Are we in Christ through humility and grace or are we like the Pharisees, hypocrites and puffed up?

Matthew 23:25-26 [25] “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. [26] You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean.

Psalm 10:2-7 [2] In arrogance the wicked hotly pursue the poor;
let them be caught in the schemes that they have devised.
[3] For the wicked boasts of the desires of his soul,
and the one greedy for gain curses and renounces the LORD.
[4] In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek him;
all his thoughts are, “There is no God.”
[5] His ways prosper at all times;
your judgments are on high, out of his sight;
as for all his foes, he puffs at them.
[6] He says in his heart, “I shall not be moved;
throughout all generations I shall not meet adversity.”
[7] His mouth is filled with cursing and deceit and oppression;
under his tongue are mischief and iniquity.

So much to say and yet, with the approval of the original author, I do not think I could say it any better. (Permission granted directly by the author, to be kept exactly as was written with mention of the Reformation Resurgence)

To My Fellow Reformed Brothers and Sisters,

There’s something heavy on my heart that I need to get out. It’s something that I wrestle with every day, and I believe it needs to be said—honest and unfiltered.

What good is sound theology if it doesn’t transform how we live and love? Yet, too often, we wear doctrine like a crown of pride rather than a mark of humility.

Being Reformed in India is often a lonely road. We are few and scattered across the nation. The joy of discovering the doctrines of grace is quickly tempered by the challenge of finding others who share this conviction.

Most of my interactions with Reformed believers have been online. Out of countless conversations, only a handful truly reflected humility, grace, and Christ-centred living. The rest were dominated by arrogance—heads full of doctrine, yet hearts devoid of its practical outworking. Theology, intended to humble the soul before God, had become a badge of superiority.

For example, a few days ago, I encountered a guy who called me a heretic over two secondary issues—Sunday worship and baptism. I mentioned that the specific day of worship is not the ultimate concern, citing Colossians 2:16–17. His response? A rigid defence of Sunday as the Christian Sabbath, quoting Calvin and the Westminster Confession of Faith. When I asked, “Have you ever been to a Muslim-majority country where Christians, including Reformed believers, meet on Fridays due to legal restrictions? Does that make their worship any less acceptable to God? What about persecuted believers who can only gather secretly and irregularly—will God reject their worship because it’s not on Sunday?” He ignored the heart of the matter. The conversation shifted to baptism, and his accusations escalated. Because I did not hold to the WCF’s view but the LBC, he insisted I was not truly Reformed and should stop using the term. His arguments, clouded by theological pride, missed the heart of the matter—valuing rigid tradition over Christlike humility.

Too often, we love to quote Calvin, the Puritans, and other historical figures more than we quote the Bible itself. While their contributions are invaluable, their words should never overshadow Scripture. Do we quote Scripture with the same passion we quote Calvin? Do we defend the gospel as fiercely as we defend our theological camp? If this makes a Reformed guy like me uncomfortable, imagine how a new convert or someone from another Christian tradition might feel. If Calvin or the Reformers were alive today, they would be the first to rebuke us for elevating their writings above the Bible. Their goal was to point people to Scripture, not to themselves.

Our ultimate authority is the Bible—not Calvin, not the Puritans, and not the confessions. These men are guides, not the goal. Their writings illuminate the truth, but they are not the source of it. Confessions summarize our beliefs, but they are not infallible. The moment we elevate them to the level of Scripture, we fall into the very error the Reformers stood against.

Our passion for doctrinal precision can sometimes blind us to the heart of the gospel. We become so focused on being theologically correct that we forget to be Christlike. We argue over doctrinal nuances while failing to show love, grace, and patience to those who differ. We can dissect every nuance of predestination, yet if our words tear others down, we betray the very grace we claim to believe. We can recite the Five Points of Calvinism flawlessly, but if our words lack love, we are nothing more than clanging cymbals (1 Corinthians 13:1).

Ask yourself (as I often ask myself): Does my theology make me more like Christ or more like a Pharisee? Am I known for my love and humility, or for my ability to win arguments? The doctrines of grace should produce the most humble, compassionate, and patient people on earth—those who know they are recipients of God’s mercy, not because of their merit but solely because of His sovereign grace. Yet too often, we appear harsh, arrogant, and unapproachable. We win arguments but lose people. We defend truth but forget that truth without love is incomplete and ineffective.

I am not claiming to be prefect in my walk. I, too, stumble and fall short in many ways. There are times when pride creeps into my heart, and I am not as humble as I ought to be. Yet, we are called to grow together, encouraging and challenging one another to walk in greater obedience and faithfulness. As Proverbs 27:17 reminds us, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” True spiritual growth happens not in isolation but in community, where we lovingly correct, encourage, and build each other up in the truth.

Let our pursuit of sound theology never puff us up with pride. Instead, let it drive us to our knees in humility before the holy God who, by His grace, opens our eyes to His truth. May our knowledge of Him break our pride, deepen our worship, and lead us to love and serve others with the same grace and patience He has shown us.

Some Reminders for a Christlike Life:

Be quicker to listen than to speak. Arguments rarely soften hearts, but a listening ear can open the door to truth (James 1:19).

Pray more than you debate. God alone opens blind eyes (2 Corinthians 4:6).

Serve with joy and humility. Let your actions display the gospel you proclaim (Philippians 2:3-4).

Be patient with those who disagree. God was patient with you (2 Peter 3:9).

So, brothers and sisters, let us return to what matters most—exalting Christ and pointing people to His Word. Let us defend sound doctrine with humility and grace. And let us remember that theology is not about winning debates—it is about knowing, loving, and glorifying God.

The world is watching. What will they see in us?

Soli Deo Gloria.

Jeremiah Knight –The Reformation Resurgence

If you are still reading, I implore you to read that last section again by Jeremiah Knight. Where do you stand within the church body as a whole? Who do you identify with, being Christlike or more like a Pharisee/puffer fish? I hope that you will join in me in self evaluation and be humble in doing so. Understand what motivates all intentions of your daily living, especially as you strive to become more Christlike.

Following in Faith, Lymes, Why?

Reflection and Progression

February 28, 2015 A Labour of Love 2 Comments

Romans 8:25
But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

Sitting in a chair facing my friend, who sits reclined back comfortably in her recliner we discuss our new book and what a wonderful author John Bunyan is. His incredible allegory of the walk of a Christian in Pilgrims Progress. We usually meet once a week at her home (she is completely home bound and unable to do anything for herself anymore) and read a chapter or two of a book. This week, we began a new book and because we both were enjoying it so much, decided to throw in a second day. Our visits over the last 6 months have been pretty much the same, we visit first, her husband sweetly confirms she is comfortable and as he exits to his “man cave” office, she and I share a little more of our week and I begin to read.

As we began our new book, we were thrown a curve ball. I began reading and when I finished page 16, I began reading what I thought was page 17 only to realize that the story didn’t make any sense at all. I looked up to see that the page after 16 was actually page 23. Now, keep in mind that I cannot read on my own without having to read one page several times due to my Lymes and my friend cannot read at all and depending upon the day may have issues with processing information due to her corticobasil degeneration. That being said, you can just imagine my dismay to find that in a neatly hardbound book there were no pages ripped out and yet pages 17-22 were missing. We both sat there laughing not quite sure what to do. We quickly realized that our time together that day may be cut short by a error in the binding of the book.

Upon further investigation, I found the rest of the pages… 10 pages further into the book. So, as if it isn’t funny enough that we are reading Pilgrims Progress together, both of us having cognitive issues and both of us being more tired in the afternoon, I now was challenged with reading from right to left rather than left to right and my friend had to endure me stopping at critical parts of the story just to find my place. Honestly, I kept thinking it would have made for a great home video recording.

Well, as it is with my memory these days, I completely forgot this when I went over to read to her the second day. So of course, I began reading where I left off and of course ended up reading some of what we had already read earlier in the week amongst the new pages of the story. Once again, we had to laugh and I had to regroup and figure out where my next pages were. Were they 10 pages forward or 2 pages back.

Having Lyme makes life so interesting! Seriously, I can relate to the frustration that was felt in the movie Still Alice… I am physically so much better than last year that I am not complaining at all. Last year at this time I could not walk up a flight of steps without nearly passing out and I could not do anything for myself except maybe a shower, and that was not daily as I just didn’t have the energy for it. I was in constant pain, my exhaustion was unexplainable and my energy level was at best good for only about an hour. By mid afternoon my brain was so foggy that I could not process information, I was unable to drive as I forgot where I was going and when I drove I completely blanked out and couldn’t remember I had driven at all. To go anywhere that needed walking I had to use a wheelchair.

After 10 months I had serious doubts I’d recover from this illness. You can imagine my my excitement when I found the doctor and protocol I had been looking for since being first diagnosed. So in early May, my Integrative doctor agreed to let me try the protocol of the other doctor I found and by June I was going to the Highland games with the family and the wheelchair stayed in the garage. I’m not saying it didn’t need to be brought out from time to time, but overall I was seeing improvements. By July I was able to make an 8 hour drive to our cottage alone with my daughter and by September I was driving to CA with the kids. The pain subsided within that first month and slowly my energy level began to increase. The brain fog has also improved, unless of course I am extremely tired and have not slept well. Learning my limitations, keeping track of my symptoms and making adjustments with my meds has been such a help. Having two doctors who look beyond, listen to me with all ears and keep an open mind to the research I also do has been a blessing.

Your likely wondering why I went from reading Pilgrims Progress to my health. Well, as we read on Thursday, I couldn’t help but to think about the characters in the story, what they stood for and how even though the book was first published in 1678, the allegory is so powerful for us today. No wonder it is the second most widely published book in world to this day, second only to the Bible. Although I enjoyed the book a few years ago when the kids and I read it together and studied it, I think after the last year I am enjoying it even more.

On Thursday we read about Christian meeting the Interpreter and what he finds in the Palace prior to going any further on his journey. Within the Palace there are a number of rooms. One of the rooms was rather small and introduced were two children, Passion and Patience. The characteristics of the two were such:

Passion was seen as being discontent; wanting of all things now, and at that moment Patience was quiet; willing to wait for that which is yet to come

In the story, the Interpreter explains: “These two lads are Figures; Passion of the men of this World, and Patience of the men of That which is to come: For as here thou seest, Passion will have all now, this year; that is to say, in this world; so are the men of this world: they must have all their good things now, they cannot stay till next year, that is, until the next World, for their portion of good. That proverb, A Bird in the Hand is worth two in the Bush, is of more authority with them, than are all the Divine testimonies of the Good of the World to come. But as thou sawest, that he had quickly lavished all away, and had presently left him nothing but rags; so will it be with all such men at the End of this world.

Christian replies: Now I see that Patience has the best Wisdom, and that upon many accounts. 1. Because he stays for the best things. 2. And also because he will have the Glory of his, when the other has nothing but rags.

Interpreter: Nay, you may add another, to wit, the Glory of the next World will never wear out; but these are suddenly gone. Therefore Passion had not so much reason to laugh at Patience, because he had his good things first, as Patience will have to laugh at Passion, because he had his best things last; for first must give place to last, because last must have its time to come; but last gives place to nothing; for there is not another to succeed: He therefore that hath his portion first, must needs have a Time to spend it; but he that has his portion last, must have it lastingly: Therefore it is said of Dives, In thy Lifetime thou receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted, and thou are tormented.

Christian: Then I perceive it is not best to covet things that are now, but to wait for things to come.

And in conclusion, I want to end with the beginning of what Interpreter has to say next: “You say truth: For the things that are seen are Temporal; but the things that are not seen are Eternal:

I have to admit that last year when I was diagnosed, I wanted my body to heal and for my life to go back as it used to be. I wanted to go back to being the super mom who could get up in the morning, make breakfast, school the kids, drive them around town for their activities, pull weeds out of the garden, help my friends paint their houses, stop for groceries and spend long hours in the kitchen preparing dinners for my family, all in one day. I wanted to be able to plan out events for the homeschool community or prepare classes as I once had in our co-op classes. I wanted to be organized without losing things. I wanted healing at that moment. I tried to be patient, and I even prayed that the Lord use my illness for His good will. Yet internally, my mind wanted desperately to have my life back.

In reading the above exchange between Christian and Interpreter, I was seeing myself as being like that of Passion. Although my heart longs to be more like Patience, I know that my human nature as a sinner is more like that of Passion. As the months drew on and now another year, I am learning more and more the importance of the lessons of Patience. The story has resonated in my mind ever since our reading on Thursday and I know it’s through the Providence of God that He continues to teach this weary being of lessons He needs for me to learn, sanctifying me so that perfection may still yet be seen.

If I had received the blessing of quick healing, would I have followed the leading of my heart to go see my friend who was already home bound? Would I have understood what it was like for those who have no or limited social interaction with others? Would I be reading Pilgrims Progress with a friend who needs to be reminded of the eternal blessings yet to come? Would I have understood that I truly had sisters that took time out of their days to help me cope in my own loneliness?

Honestly, I think not. If God had allowed me to follow my own way, just as Passion, then I am quite certain my short lived illness would have been placed in a box on a shelf where dust would settle only to be forgotten. I would have gone on with my days wanting to be something more and someone more than I am meant to be. I would have likely filled my days with things that have no real meaning other than for self. My friend would still be sitting in her recliner, yet I would have missed the blessings of seeing her smile, her sense of humor with her husband and our wonderful discussions that come out of our readings. I would have missed an opportunity to serve another who was and is desperate for her own healing and for understanding as to why her life has taken the turn it has.

As I continue to read through Pilgrims Progress I look forward to seeing what the Lord once again has to show me. I hope that as you read this post, you too may consider reading along with us. I promise, you will not be disappointed.

Luke 8:15
As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.