St. Aidan's Anglican Church
  • Home
  • Worship Online
  • The Preachers Blog
  • Bible in a Year
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • The Re-Gathering
  • RSVP for a Service
  • Youth
  • Cords
  • Prayer Requests
  • Request Pastoral Care
  • Give
  • Grocery Pick Up
  • Statement of Faith
  • Video Archive
    • 2023 Videos
    • Real Lives
    • 2022 Videos
    • 2021 Videos
    • 2020 Videos
  • Sermon Audio Archive
    • 2020 Sermons
    • 2019 Sermons
    • 2019 Sermon Series >
      • Gospel Centered Eternities November 2019
      • The Real Joy of Easter - Holy Week 2019
    • 2018 Sermons
    • 2018 Sermon Series >
      • Gospel Centred Church Spring 2018
      • A Gospel Shaped Church Fall 2018
    • 2017 Sermon Series >
      • The Servant King Christmas 2016
      • The Saviour King Lent 2017
      • The Victorious King Holy Week 2017
      • The Living King Easter 2017
      • The Brother King Fall 2017
      • Worship the King Advent 2017
    • 2016 Sermon Series >
      • Real Obedience Lent 2016
      • Unity of the Church
      • The Servant King Christmas 2016
    • 2015 Sermon Series >
      • Real Gifts 2015
      • Real Mission 2015
      • Mission Discerned
    • 2014 Sermon Series >
      • Real Church 2014
      • Real Lives 2014
    • 2013 Sermon Series >
      • Real God 2013
    • Sermon Archive From 2014 - 2017
  • Christianity 101
  • The Psalms Blog
  • Bible in a Year
  • The Re-Gathering

the  Preachers  blog

Blogs are posted every Wednesday

Hindsight or Foresight? by Pastor Dave

11/30/2020

 
“You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. Don’t grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door.”
James 5: 8-9
 
James 5: 7-12
 
     “If only I’d known!” “Hindsight is a wonderful thing.” How many times have we used expressions like this when we have rued certain actions and contemplated how we would have acted differently if we had known the end from the beginning? In this short passage James identifies a perspective that can alter our lives and behaviour; it could have been written to us considering our current context. He is reminding us that we do know how things will end, Jesus Christ is returning (vs. 7, 8 & 9). His return will be wonderful, amazing and awe inspiring; it will also be frightening. The whole world will see Him, there will be new heavens and earth and for those who belong to the Lord eternity continues. There will also be accountability, judgement and no more chances of reconciliation (Revelation 21: 1-8, Matthew 25: 31-46). These are truths we contemplate and celebrate at Advent, truths that should impact our lives in the present.
     There is a call for patience with a practical illustration (vs. 7-8). In the locality where James was writing there would be two main periods of rain, the fall rains after the crops were planted and the spring rains before the harvest, both were essential. At Advent we celebrate Christ coming to us and paving the way for new life now, we become the firstfruits of the Church (2 Thessalonians 2: 13). We know He will come again for the spiritual harvest (Matthew 9: 35-38). The farmer tends the crop, which is valuable, but knows that patience is needed for the miracle of growth in between the rains. In this now and not yet of the Kingdom of God we know that we are valuable to Him but need to have patience while we wait and as His work is done (Mark 4: 26-29). The Lord’s incarnation, second coming and salvific work are thus  likened to the falls of rain and harvest.
     In this time, when there will be suffering, alongside patience we are to watch our words. Grumbling against our fellow believers is simply not right. It may be understandable due to pressure, stress and differences but the Lord watches, hears and will hold us accountable (vs. 9). We can find encouragement in the example of prophets and figures of faith who faced similar difficulties but persevered. It is a common fault for each generation to think they know better or have experienced worse than previous generations. We are therefore encouraged to consider previous saints and persevere (vs. 10-11). Finally we are again challenged to guard our tongues. The capacity of the tongue to spoil everything is huge (covered in earlier blogs); as we wait with patience we are to speak with patience (vs. 12). The Lord is full of mercy and compassion (vs. 11); may we reflect His love.
 
To Ponder: Do you have hindsight or foresight in life? How might knowing the truth of the Lord’s return impact your life, conversations and relationships today?
 
Pray: God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, bring us to the dwelling your Son is preparing for all who love you; give us the will each day to live in life eternal; let our citizenship be in heaven with the blessed, with the whole company of the redeemed and with countless angels, praising, worshipping and adoring your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ who sits upon the throne forever and ever. Amen
 
Praise: Holy (The Wedding Day) The City Harmonic
From the Squalor of a Borrowed Stable Stuart Townend



Comments are closed.
    Picture
    Picture

    Preachers Blog

    In 2023, each week's blog is a follow-up reflection written by the preceding Sunday’s preacher to dig deeper into the sermon topic and explore engaging discussion questions.

    ​Thank you for joining us as we journeyed through the Bible in a Year in 2021 and the Psalms in 2022.  All past blogs remain available if you wish to catch up with any days missed.

    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

    Who is Jesus?
At St Aidan's, it's our desire to know our Real God,
to grow as a Real Church and
​ to live Real Lives for Him.

Picture
St Aidan’s Anglican Church
274 Campbell Street | Winnipeg, MB R3N 1B5
Phone: 204.489.3390 Email: staidans.churchoffice@gmail.com
  • Home
  • Worship Online
  • The Preachers Blog
  • Bible in a Year
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • The Re-Gathering
  • RSVP for a Service
  • Youth
  • Cords
  • Prayer Requests
  • Request Pastoral Care
  • Give
  • Grocery Pick Up
  • Statement of Faith
  • Video Archive
    • 2023 Videos
    • Real Lives
    • 2022 Videos
    • 2021 Videos
    • 2020 Videos
  • Sermon Audio Archive
    • 2020 Sermons
    • 2019 Sermons
    • 2019 Sermon Series >
      • Gospel Centered Eternities November 2019
      • The Real Joy of Easter - Holy Week 2019
    • 2018 Sermons
    • 2018 Sermon Series >
      • Gospel Centred Church Spring 2018
      • A Gospel Shaped Church Fall 2018
    • 2017 Sermon Series >
      • The Servant King Christmas 2016
      • The Saviour King Lent 2017
      • The Victorious King Holy Week 2017
      • The Living King Easter 2017
      • The Brother King Fall 2017
      • Worship the King Advent 2017
    • 2016 Sermon Series >
      • Real Obedience Lent 2016
      • Unity of the Church
      • The Servant King Christmas 2016
    • 2015 Sermon Series >
      • Real Gifts 2015
      • Real Mission 2015
      • Mission Discerned
    • 2014 Sermon Series >
      • Real Church 2014
      • Real Lives 2014
    • 2013 Sermon Series >
      • Real God 2013
    • Sermon Archive From 2014 - 2017
  • Christianity 101
  • The Psalms Blog
  • Bible in a Year
  • The Re-Gathering