Timeless Truths: Patience in an Imperfect World

"Some Assembly Required" series.

Series Theme Verse

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Galatians 5:22-23

The fruit of the Spirit is evidence of our relationship with God.

The fruit of the Spirit is not evidence of our God-gifts.

·      This is not the “produce section” in your local store.

·      There is no choice among the listed attributes.

·      All the attributes listed are part of the single fruit.

Patience is essential in any relationship.

The Biblical definition of patience is from the Greek.

Makro = long and Thumia = temper

Essentially patience is defined as “a long holding out of the mind before it [the mind] moves into action.”

1. God’s purpose in patience: redemption.

God’s Nature is two-fold.

Anger

Anger is not wrong, but what we do with our anger can be sinful.

“The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, [emphasis mine] abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished – Exodus 34:6-7

Yet he was merciful; he forgave their iniquities and did not destroy them. Time after time he restrained his anger [emphasis mine] and did not stir up his full wrath.

Psalm 78:38

Love

If God was only love, there would be no need for the cross.

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. John 15:13-14

2. Mankind’s problem with patience: relationships.

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me?” Matthew 18:21

My addition:

Peter had his own agenda with this question. He tried to show Jesus how pious he was by suggesting “up to seven times.” That was an outrageous number of times from the Jewish perspective.

Jesus saw through the ruse. He countered with verbiage that has been translated by various scholars as “seventy-seven” or “seventy times seven.”

If Peter’s 7 was a stretch for a Jew, how much shock did Jesus cause with an answer of 77? I’ve heard it explained by those who are of the “seventy times seven” school, that Christ is really saying, “as many times as it takes.”

Whatever the number, maybe Jesus means we need to forgive up to 490 times for any one sin against us.

Food for thought.

HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO ANGER?

REPRESS IT: “hold it in.” This is not a good response emotionally, physically, or spiritually.

SUPRESS IT: “pretend it never happened.” Another bad response.

EXPRESS IT: “let them know how you feel.” This usually ends with bad results.

CONFESS IT: a) to yourself; b) to God; 3) to the one who hurt you.

God has unlimited patience.

Consider Paul’s words to Timothy:

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. 1 Timothy 1:15-16

MAKROTHUMA is the Christians’ appropriate RESPONSE to PEOPLE and EVENTS!

MAKROTHUMA is given in direct PROPORTION to our RELATIONSHIP with Christ.

3. God’s password to patience: reliance.

Jesus must be Savior and Lord

When our relationships stop growing, they start dying.

We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work [emphasis mine], growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. Colossians 1:9-12

When the Spirit is working in us, all fruit is growing and maturing.

Now the God of patience [emphasis mine] and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 15:5-6 (KJV)

The fruit of the Spirit must come from the root of the Spirit.

God has an UNDEFEATABLE patience with PEOPLE and an UNDISCOURAGED patience with EVENTS.

God gives us power for patience through Christ’s death and resurrection.

The more we know Christ, the greater our patience.

Next week: What Follows You – Goodness

Special thanks to Dr. Keith Newman for the primary teachings used in this post. I invite you to his blog, which he's titled, Curious Sojourner.

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