As I begin to study through the Book of Acts for a new sermon series, I'm learning fresh and anew just how isolated and nationalistic church's have become. The greatest challenges we face are related more to our own personal, but unhealthy conceptions in life and the many unproductive preoccupations we engage, rather than geographical issues, resources, or support. Many believers today seem to be so anti towards the very people we need to connect to and the task God's given us to do. And we certainly are not comfortable in our relationship with God's Spirit. I look forward to see what and how God's Spirit will teach me to address such concerns and the insights that will be necessary to overcome them. One thing is sure; it will take lots of focused prayer.

Peter, James, and John personally experienced the transfiguration of Jesus on Mount Hermon. Jesus was metamorphosed right before their eyes. This means that Jesus changed form. It says that Jesus' face shown like the sun. This was not a light shinning upon Jesus from without, but His deity shining forth from within. Dr. Herschel Hobbs writes it was "the wick of His essential deity, which from His birth had been turned down low, was suddenly turned up to burn in the brightness of His true glory." This was no hallucination, as some have said. Paul used this same verb to describe the transformation that is to come about in the believer's life. "Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God" (Romans 12:2, HCSB). God changes you from the person you were into the person He wants you to be. However, this process takes place "by the renewing of your minds." Sadly, some believers still remain inside a cocoon because they will not allow God's Word to change the way they think. Make sure you regularly spend time with God in prayer. Make sure you regularly and systematically study God's Word. Make sure you also listen to the Holy Spirit as He seeks to teach you and show you how to apply God's truth to your life. As you do this, you will reflect the  transformation taking place within you that will also shine so brightly out from you.

The Greatest Way to Live

While there are many approaches to life, only one approach allows you to truly make a difference. Many people have discovered the emptiness that results from trying to make a difference apart from exercising God's gifts through love. One of God's blessed gifts is patience. The apostle Paul connects this gift with love (1 Corinthians 13:4) but also says it is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). The Greek word for patience denotes delay, slow to be roused, like a pot that does not boil because the flame is keep on low. It is the quality that endures other's thoughtlessness and irritations without the lost of temper. It is the ability to be inconvenienced or taken advantage of by a person over and over again, yet without losing control. Such a virtue was not considered valuable in the first century nor is it today. However, it should be to every Christian. Every believer should be characterized by patience and love.

Paul writes, "I, therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, urge you to walk worthy of the calling you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience" (Ephesians 4:1, 2, HCSB). Every believer's daily conduct (walk) should correspond to his or her high position as a child of God and fellow heir with Jesus Christ. Let me offer three times when a believer should be patience. We should be patient when people inconvenience you, when they interrupt you, and when they irritate you. These can seem like small things but they are the proving grounds for developing patience in life, and when patience becomes a virtue in your life, then it will greatly benefit your life. In 2005, Jell-O turned 110 years old. The rights to mix fruit flavoring with granulated gelatin to make Jell-o was purchased by Pearl Wait from Peter Cooper in 1845. Pear and his wife, May, thought they could turn a quick profit, but it did not work out. Frustrated at the results of his new investment, Pearl sold the rights to Jell-O to a man named Woodward for $450. Woodward was more patient and in 10 years turned his $450 investment into a multi-million dollar business. Today, not one descendant of Pearl and May Wait receive one dime from the 1.1 million boxes of Jell-O that are sold everyday. I guess you could say that Wait could not wait. Impatience is very costly.

The greatest example of patience is our Lord Himself. Peter writes, "The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9, NASB). God is patient in delaying the Lord's Second Coming for your benefit, so that you will come to Him through repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. God is patient with the worst of sinners, but no one should presume upon or try God's patience. The prophet Isaiah writes, "Then he said, 'Listen now, O house of David! Is it too slight a thing for you t try the patience of men, that you will try the patience of my God as well?'" (7:13, NASB). It is possible for us to weary or to try God's patience. There comes a time when enough is enough and God will accept no more.

There is no better way to live than being a patient person. Let God's patience toward you cause you to be patient with others. But also, do not let God's patience toward you go unrewarded. God wishes that you come to repentance and faith in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Do not let His patience run out.