Knowing This: Worketh Patience

What believer doesn't want to be 'perfect and entire, wanting nothing'? We must labor to improve what God has shown us. God's people are said to be destroyed for lack of knowledge. We need to be knowledgeable about our God, for ignorance of God is the mother of false religions and brings sorrow and turmoil to God's people. Paul says, I have learned,' meaning that he strove to have this in his life. We need to teach our minds, which will affect our hearts. Our hearts are influenced by our thoughts, so we must learn to think God's thoughts after Him. The trying of our faith teaches us patience; and when we are tried, we should not be so quick to dismiss this lesson, but 'let patience have her perfect work.' We are to 'let': allow it, submit to it. Patience doesn't mean just putting up with situations and people, but one that abides and grows more complete. Patience is perfected in our trials, as was the case with Job. James tells us, 'You know the patience of Job....' When it seems that God 'lingers,' this is a time when the perfect work is not yet complete, and we must learn the lessons taught there before we can move on.