Patience in the Midst...

by Bshara Khazen, pastor of churches at Beine and Fassouta in northern Israel, and a member of the CHLF Galilee Team of Israeli-Arab pastors.

Christmas Greetings of Peace and Goodwill to the body of Christ everywhere.

In light of difficult circumstances in today’s land where the Christ child was born, I want to share with you this meditation; it is an important message for the whole year.

My dear brothers in Christ,

How I respect, honor and stand in admiration of the young man Joseph. This is not Mary’s husband, but the son of Jacob. He is such an example for all the children of God, especially in times that we are frustrated and questioning our purpose.

What do you do when you see the vision of God and you do not understand it?

• Is God’s vision for me to have hatred toward my brothers?
• Is God’s vision for me denying me from my mother from a young age?
• Is God’s will for me to be deprived of my freedom and to be sold to Egypt?
• Is God’s will for me to be deprived of my freedom and be imprisoned?
• Is God’s will for me to be deprived of my admiration and be forgotten by the cup-bearer?

Does God’s will include deprivation … denial …

Be patient my soul … be patient knowing that suffering brings on perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. (Romans 5:3-5) Trust this good and wise God and do not be shaken my soul. He is God and He will come in time. And when time came, this phrase was repeated a lot, quickly; they brought him quickly after he had shaved and changed his clothes. (Genesis 41:14)

What’s the story … quickly, be fast. Yes salvation; it is time. And when it is time, He hastens to do it and what would take 40 years to accomplish was done in one day. How long did it take Joseph to become king and master over the throne of Egypt? A few hours! Why? Because He is able to accomplish in one day what would take a thousand years. We thank you God for the truthfulness of your promises.

Yes you will have tribulations in this world.

“All this I have told you so that you will not fall away. They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God.” (John 16:1-2)

So trust God and His wisdom and goodness.

“Let us hear the conclusion of the matter. Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).