Tag Archives: time

Patience Measured in Years

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I was reading in Hebrews 6 this morning, noting its exhortations to be diligent in faith and patience….

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9 Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation. 10 For God is not unjust so as to overlook a your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. 11 And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, 14 saying, “Surely I will bless you and multiply you.” 15 And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise. [emphasis added to esv]

Little did I remember (until spotting the ESVSB notes) that old Abraham waited 25 years for the promise about a son to be fulfilled (cf. Gen. 12:4 & 21:5). Twenty-five YEARS.

How grossly impatient we appear in light of this!
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A precious jewel indeed…

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The puritan Thomas Brooks, in his work “The Hypocrite Detected” speaks of the great value of time….

“Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”
Ephesians 5:16
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Time is a jewel more worth than a world!

Time is not yours to dispose of as you please; it is
a glorious talent, which men must be accountable
for–as well as any other talent. Of all talents, time
is the hardest to improve well. Ah, beloved, have
not you need to improve your time–who have
much work to do, in so short a time:

your souls to save,
a God to honor,
a Christ to exalt,
a hell to escape,
a race to run,
a crown to win,
temptations to withstand,
corruptions to conquer,
afflictions to bear,
mercies to improve, and
your generation to serve!

“Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”
Psalm 90:12

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