Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain.
James 5:7 (NKJV)
The Christians James was talking to here were anxiously awaiting the return of the Lord. They wanted Him to come and come now. “What’s taking so long?” That was the theme of their thoughts.
James gives them a peek into the heart of God here and answers that question so well. He’s waiting for the “precious fruit of the earth.” Do you know who that is? It’s all the lost people in the city of Warren. It’s everyone who has yet to accept Jesus as Savior and Lord. That’s a lot of people. The church was being selfish. In essence, they were okay with millions of souls being lost forever as long as it made their life easier. Ouch.
I like how James describes the lost. Precious fruit. Precious. There are a lot of people who don’t know Christ that I wouldn’t call precious. Many words pop into my mind when I think of them. Frustrating. Wicked. Evil. Vile. Hopeless. But not precious.
There is no rotten fruit in His eyes. What we may call rotten, like a rapist or murderer or someone so lost in addiction we’ve had to cut them off because they’ve hurt and betrayed us too many times, God calls precious. He paid a hefty price for them like He did for you and me.
There is nobody so far gone that God’s powerful, loving, delivering arm can’t reach them if we pray. Do what you need to do in the natural. Draw boundaries if you have to, but never stop praying. Ever. It releases God’s power where it’s needed the most.
Let’s pray together.
PRAYER POINTS FOR ME
- Father, help me see the harvest as You see them, precious fruit and not rotten.
- Father, help me to be patient in waiting and yet still longing to see Your return.
- Father, help me not be selfish with my time as others continue to be lost but help me always be watching in prayer.
TODAY’S PRAYER FOR THE LOST IN WARREN, OHIO
Father, all of the Lost in the city of Warren are precious to You. You want them. You long for them to be a part of Your family. Send the rain of Your presence into their hearts to soften them, and I pray they will respond to Your touch and turn to You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen!
It’s not too late to continue to invite your Christian friends, family, churches and pastors to pray along with us. We will see you back here tomorrow to pray together again.