Patience and Judgement

James 5:7-9 7Be patient, the, brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autmn and spring rains.
8 You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near.
9 Don't grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door.

I sat this Monday morning and considered all of the recent events of just the past week of my life. Wow...what a turn of events. Isn't it amazing how people can always shock you by the things that are really in their hearts? When it comes to that, Jesus was wiser than us. He said he gave himself to no man--because he knew what was in them. What insight!!! I am starting to understand this principle more and more. You don't invest so much of yourself into people that when they faulter, and they will, not only do they self-destruct but they take a piece of you with them. You should never be that connected that you try to take over God's job as overseer. I realized that ultimately, all I can do is teach and preach the Word of God. People choose whether they accept it and use it to grow, or reject it and go their own way--using God as a cover-up. The choices people make,,,are their own.
I am learning that as a leader, somethings you can control--others you cannot. My greatest comfort is just the reality the God is the final judge of all of this. Over and over, I have watched helplessly as people fall to their spiritual death--all in the name of being right in their own eyes. After the great fall out and ultimate destruction of their reputation, the evil spirits of shame and condemnation take over. People never seem to be able to bring themselves to the point of restoration because they don't want to do what God requires for that dynamic to take place. So,,,they stay lost and wallow in defeat. All I can do is pray and be patient with people. I pray that they will not stray so far from the Father's covering. The enemy is waiting to devour the stragglers. The saddest part of it all....judgement always comes,,and never misses. Be careful at all times to make sure you are found in God's favor,,,not His judgement.