Patience

While working with Gustavo Calixto in Quito, Ecuador las week, I was struck by  a feature of the Sower and the seed that I had never noticed before.

In Luke 8:15 referring to the good seed Jesus said, "But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the Word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience."

I had never noticed the word "patience"- an essential ingredient in fruit bearing.  I like the Kingdom translation by N T Wright- "But those in the good soil are the ones who hear the word and hold on to it with an upright and good heart, and who patiently produce fruit."

Patience is that logical consequence of faith in a reigning God who will not let our labor "in Him" be in vain- I Cor 15:58- regardless of what we can see.  Sometimes I wonder if we don't give up too soon and become like some of the other seeds that fell by the way.

One joy of getting older and looking back as I have been able to do here in Colombia is to be able to see how some of the most difficult times of ministry 50 years ago has now resulted in the most fruit.