Saturday, August 9, 2008

how long

Matthew 17:14-20

"A man came up to Jesus and knelt down before him."

This is not a bad way to begin a conversation with Christ.  Amazing things happen when we come up Jesus and kneel before him.  On our knees we truly begin to see. 

The man makes a request and then Jesus responds in a seemingly harsh tone...
"O faithless and perverse generation, how long will I be with you? How long will I endure you?"

Doesn't sound so inviting. Think about it.  Jesus has to endure us.  What does that say about us?

But the question is meant to get us to think about the reality of Christ.  We should repeat the question not with a sigh of bitterness but with an air of hope, How long, Lord, will you endure us?

We are hopeful because we know the answer.  Jesus at the end of the gospel of Matthew finally reveals to the disciples and ourselves just how long He will endure, 

"all power in heaven and earth has been given to me.  Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.  and, behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age."

He is with us always.  How long will he endure, 'until the end of the age.'  Or in layman terms, as long as it takes to see us through

This is why we ask the question with hope in our hearts.  We know the answer.  Jesus will endure with us as long as it takes, even if it takes until the end of the age. 

Patience is a virtue that Christ ask from us because He himself lives it for us.

How long?  As long as it takes.  What a savior!

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