Jeremiah 15:15-21; Romans 12:9-21; Matthew 16:21-28, Psalm 26
Introduction:
Comparing with other�s lives, Christian life is difficult because of our moral and ethical values. We can�t talk or do whatever we want to do.
We should think before we do anything whether it is good or bad.
Because, we know our Christian values and we learn them from our childhood.
Some times, we frustrated and we blame God for our haplessness when people talk all kinds of bad language to us.
Then, we loose our patience and we walk away from our ethical attitude.
Let us think how patience, hope and prayer work together as gifts from God for Christians in tribulation.
When we lose our patience, we are on the edge of giving up.
We have tried too hard for too long and we beginning to think that it does not matter anymore, so we do one of two things: We walk away from a situation or we do whatever we want. Patience is easy to lose.
That�s why Paul�s words are a blessing for us today. He reveals that patience is a gift from God.
It is not something we have from birth, and it does not come naturally to us.
If we undergo tribulation, it is hard not lose patience. Many times, we lose our patience because of our sinful nature and the Devil wants us to lose our patience when he leads us into tribulation.
However, we should remember that God do not lose His patience even though we are living in our sinful nature. He gives us His grace and mercy whenever we need.
If we stand in His grace, we neither walk away nor loose our patience. Instead, be patient in tribulation.
PRAYER AND HOPE
What God wants us to do in the time of tribulation? Before we lose our patience, He wants us to come to Him in prayer.
Let us turn to our Old Testament reading for today. Because of God�s Word, Jeremiah is a laughingstock among the Jews.
He prophesies destruction of the Jewish land and of the temple of God, but nothing seems to happen.
In the midst of tribulation, Jeremiah does not walk away. He comes before God in prayer, and in His mercy, God answers.
God responds to Jeremiah�s suffering prayer with a promise of steadfast mercy.
The promise is, �I will make you to this people a fortified wall of bronze; they will fight against you, but they shall not prevail over you for I am with you to save you and deliver you� (Jeremiah 15:21)
So, what about us? As a Christian believer, when we face so many moral and ethical problems in this world and in the time of tribulation, we loose our patience and we want to give up.
Why so many people in the western world loose their faith in God and do not attend a church?
They lost their patience in tribulations. For many of them, it is enough for to face many ethical challenges.
Some think they are sinners and they do not deserve to attend a church. Instead of walking away from the sinful nature, they walk away from God. It is easy to walk away from God than walk away from evil nature.
Think about Job. In the midst of tribulation, he did not walk away from God. Even his wife insisted him to curse God and die; he did not loose his patience and walk away from God, but he trusted God.
Many of us, in the time of tribulation, we have temptation to loose our patience and walk away from God.
Instead of walk away, we should trust in God�s mercy and call out to God in prayer.
We are patient in tribulation by being constant in prayer.
REJOICE IN HOPE:
Patience in tribulation does not take control but rejoice in hope.
Some times, we want to take control the situation. We need to take the situation in our control to end the suffering or tribulation.
Instead of taking control the situation, we should rejoice in the hope that we received from God through Jesus Christ.
Paul says in Romans 5:3-5, �We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us shame�.
Through the endurance of suffering, we are formed in hope; our eyes are turned from this world to the future glory make certain for us in Christ.
From today�s Gospel reading, we understand the things of God are different to things of man.
Peter wants to do the things of man, by controlling the situation in his hand to save Jesus� life.
Some times, we do same thing, to control the situation for our selves, loosing trust in God.
Jesus explained the things of God, and reveals how that vision changes life in this world.
Rather than be in control of one�s life, losing one�s life in trusting in the way of God.
Our Lord said, �If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.� Mt 16:23, 24.
If you would like to control your self, you loose it. If you trust in God and depend on His mercy, you save it.
Our temptation is to deny the cross and take control of our lives.
Yet God�s certain love gives us hope.
Paul says in Romans 8:31-32, �If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?�
Even in tribulation, we know that we are kept by grace in the ways of God; therefore, we do not take control.
We are patient by rejoicing in hope.
Conclusion:
Dear friends, when we loose patience in tribulation, call God and trust in His mercy shown in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Instead, taking control of the situation, relying on our selves, come to God with prayer and thanksgiving and rejoice in the hope He gives us.
Let us rejoice in hope and be constant in prayer.
Let us not loose patience in tribulation.
Let us not take control our selves but relay on God.
God, who gives us hope for our salvation, takes all our burdens and gives us peace and joy. Amen.