Hiawatha church of Christ

One of the hardest times to sit still and be quiet is in a waiting room. For a child this is no easy task. Parents will tell their children to sit still and be patient. From this, many believe that patience is the ability to wait without complaint. However, patience is more than that. It is the determined purpose to keep moving forward regardless of the adversity one is facing. Patience as spoken of in the Bible is synonymous with perseverance. Throughout the Christian life, one is to remain steadfast in the Lord. Jesus said, “…Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.” (Revelation 2:10b). No one can accomplish this without patience. So, the question is, “How do we grow in patience?” Let us, therefore, consider the following. We Grow through Trials. When we are faced with adversity, it is like hitting our head against the proverbial brick wall. We will often feel like we are stuck in a bad place and there is simply no way out. These trials will have one of two ef...

There are many biblical principles that are easy to understand, and yet difficult to apply. This is especially true when we are confronted by wrath. We can easily quote what the bible says we ought to do, but making the application in the heat of the moment is not lacking in challenge. James wrote, “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear; slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” (James 1:19-20). We are very familiar with this passage. Making the application, however, is where the challenge of Christian living begins. So, the question is, “How do we maintain self-control when things get hot?” Know the Dangers of Wrath. The problem with wrath is that it often leads to other sins. Jesus discussed the sin of murder in the Sermon on the Mount. He stated, “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ But I say to you that whoever ...