How can we apply the patience shown by the servants in our lives? Setting the scene: servants outside a locked door “After he had gone, Eglon’s servants came and found the doors of the upstairs room locked. They said, ‘He must be relieving himself in the cool room.’” (Judges 3:24) Observing their patience • They resisted panic: a locked door did not push them into rash action. • They avoided presumption: they waited rather than embarrassing their master. • They honored authority: even when nothing made sense, they respected Eglon’s privacy. • They showed self-control: no gossip, no complaining, just steady waiting. Lessons for daily life • Wait before reacting. A locked door, an unanswered text, a delay at work—pause, breathe, pray. • Respect boundaries. Patience protects relationships by giving others room to act. • Trust God’s unseen work. Behind every “locked door” He is accomplishing purposes we can’t yet see (Romans 8:28). • Guard your words. Like the servants, refuse to grumble while you wait (Philippians 2:14-15). Strengthened by Scripture • James 5:7-8 —“Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the Lord’s coming… You too, be patient and strengthen your hearts.” • Psalm 37:7 —“Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him.” • Galatians 5:22 —Patience is fruit the Spirit grows; it is more cultivated than conjured. • Romans 12:12 —“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, persistent in prayer.” Practical steps to cultivate patience today 1. Start small: choose one daily inconvenience (traffic, long line) and practice silent, thankful waiting. 2. Set “response margins”: when an email frustrates you, wait ten minutes before replying. 3. Memorize a patience verse—quote it aloud whenever impatience flares. 4. Serve someone secretly this week; hidden service trains the heart to focus on others, not on time. 5. Track God’s past faithfulness. A written record of answered prayers fuels confidence to wait again. Remembering Christ, the perfect example • He patiently bore ridicule (1 Peter 2:23). • He patiently carries us still (Isaiah 46:4). • He waits so that more may repent (2 Peter 3:9). Following Him, we can stand outside life’s locked doors with the same quiet trust, knowing He will open them at the right moment. |
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