itching ears

Good evening friends,
Today's reading comes near the end of Paul's second letter to Timothy. Paul urges Timothy to be patient, but also firm in his teaching. Often the truth is hard to hear, so Paul knows Timothy's work will be difficult sometimes. I'm grateful to you for making my work as a minister joyful.
Blessings on your evening and on the new week,
Sam

2 Timothy 4:1-8

In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I solemnly urge you: ²proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable; convince, rebuke, and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching. ³For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires, ⁴and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths. 

⁵As for you, always be sober, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, carry out your ministry fully. ⁶As for me, I am already being poured out as a libation, and the time of my departure has come. ⁷I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

patience

Good morning brothers and sisters,
Our reading today is from the Letter of James. James was known as the brother of the Lord, and is believed to have been Jesus' brother. He was one of the most important leaders in the church in Jerusalem. His letter is a great bridge from the Gospels to the letters in the Bible because it somehow seems more continuous with Jesus' teachings than Paul's letters. Here James reminds the church of its hope in God's kingdom, which is coming soon. He calls them to wait patiently even though times are tough and the wait seems long. This is a great word for us in Advent. Certainly the days to Christmas don't seem long; they fly by without any pause. But the wait for Christ's return seems to go on forever without any sign of coming closer. Let us trust that God will bring all things to their right conclusion at the right time. Our calling for now is to seek that kingdom and God's justice and to wait in patient hope.

Weekend blessings,
Sam

James 5:7-10

7Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. 8You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. 9Beloved, do not grumble against one another, so that you may not be judged. See, the Judge is standing at the doors! 10As an example of suffering and patience, beloved, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.