Patient Pursuit

As I travel around the world I am often asked, “What is it like to live in the US?” My response varies as I try to describe our way of life, the political and social structure, our smooth highways, the fully stocked grocery stores, the spacious and even luxurious malls, the relative peace in our communities, our education system, the varied work place environments, and the many benefits and opportunities which the citizens of our country enjoy including going to church and worshipping without persecution.

Many times I see the eyes light up, the smile widen, and the imagination stir when I tell about life in America. For some it’s so hard to believe. They ask: “do you have a car? … can you live in any city you wish? … is there water in every house? … do all children go to school? … are you safe in your country? … is it true that you have rights as a citizen which no one can take away?” So many questions whose answers often elicit the response: “I wish I could live in America.”

I never tire of telling people about the great nation I’m proud to call my home, the Unites States of America, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. A nation founded upon principles in which I believe and to which I pledge. Every American, just as the citizens of many other wonderful countries, has a lot to be thankful for today.

Every individual would be better off to live in a country which loved and cared for its people. However, so many countries do not …

Often when I am called upon to tell those who live in very difficult situations, under the tyranny of a rogue national leader, oppressed by corrupt local governments, frustrated with the lack of opportunity or robbed of a dream for their future, about the wonderful place I and my family live, I think about Jesus trying to tell us about His home and the benefits of living in His Father’s kingdom. He must have felt so sorry for us, as He watched people try to grasps what He was describing.

The New Testament references God’s Kingdom more than 120 times. That’s an average of being mentioned in one out of every two chapters in the New Testament, once in every 66 verses. So basically, you can’t read more than 66 verses without crossing the topic of the Kingdom of God/heaven/My/Thy/The. (The NT contains 260 chapters, 7958 verses)

There are so many opportunities, so many benefits, so many blessings to being born again and living in the Kingdom. This is why Jesus keeps trying to tell us about His home and how life is lived in that Kingdom.

Just like any nation, state, country, or Kingdom, the Kingdom of heaven is also founded upon principles basic to the founder, and has rules and laws which govern its citizens. This morning we are going to look at one of the principles of Kingdom life. Turn with me to:

Matthew 18 NKJV
21 ¶ Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?"
22 Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.

Forgive someone 490 times for the same thing? There is a difference between forgiveness and restoration. A person needs to quit and change in order to be restored … but not to be forgiven. In John 8 Jesus forgave the woman caught in adultery and then told her to go and sin no more. He did the same with many others. Forgiveness is not based on what you do but rather on what He did! This is the Kingdom way … don’t you wish you lived in the Kingdom?

23 "Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.
24 "And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.

If this was a silver talent, the 1990 dollar estimate is about $16,180,000. If it was a gold talent, the 1990 dollar estimate would be 80 times greater than the silver talent, or $1,294,400,000. Either way, that’s a lot to owe … or a lot to be forgiven!

25 "But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made.
26 "The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’
27 "Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.
28 "But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’

The denarii and a common shilling are reckoned to be worth about 17 cents. So, this man owed somewhere just less than $20. The specific amounts are not important except that they represent such a disparity in what we owe God as opposed to what we are owed by other men.

29 "So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’
30 "And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt.
31 "So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done.
32 "Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me.
33 ‘Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’
34 "And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.
35 "So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses."

“Have patience with me.” And he would not …

This passage actually speaks to two principles of the Kingdom. First: Do unto others what you would have them do unto you, (if you were in their shoes). Basically, you reap what you sow!

There is however, another principle of the Kingdom of heaven here in this passage which requires every person to follow the rule of patience. Why?

Hebrews 10:36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

Some benefits of the Kingdom can only be experienced when we exercise patience. (Other benefits can only be gained when we become a blessing to others simply because we would want to be blessed by others if we were in their shoes.) Anyway, the kingdom principle of patience …

Hebrews 6:12 See that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

In fact:

Luke 21:19 In your patience possess ye your souls.

Have you ever heard someone say: “You’re trying my patience!” Believe me, 490 times would seemingly try anyone’s patience. However, what they really may be trying is their faith, not their patience, but their faith to believe that if they continue to trust God and not take matters into their own hands pre-maturely, everything will work out for the best in light of the situation they are facing.

How do we obtain patience?

James 1:3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

James 1:4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

Decide right now that the trials of life will not cause you to lose your faith in God. But rather, as you continue trusting God with those things which you cannot change anyway, believe that patience will have her perfect work in you and that you will be complete and fulfilled, lacking no good thing. Begin living the Kingdom way today! The benefits are out of this world!