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Give Them Time

 


  It seems that whatever it is we want, the when we want it is now. In the ancient world, when something was done quickly, it was described as “that very hour” (Matthew 8:13, John 5:42). Today we think in terms of the second (or even the millisecond)!

  The reality is that some things take time. With that in mind, let's consider Revelation 2:21, “I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her sexual immorality.” In this passage, Christ is speaking to an issue with immorality in the church. By no means does he condone this, yet still he says he gave time for repentance to happen. Now that time was coming to an end because of the lack of repentance.

  Yet, we must acknowledge that some time was given. Often when we confront a person about an issue, and there isn’t an immediate reaction, we think it did no good.  But that may not be the case. Some things take time. Time for behavior to be changed. Time for hearts to melt. Time for conversations to be had. Time for choices to take hold.

  Repentance might take some time. We need to be sure we are giving that time. Like anything, that time might be abused, but like God, we need to be longsuffering.

 Give people the chance and the time to make things right. 

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