Patience is a Virtue
Dear Friends,
In a stressful culture driven by instant gratification, we have lost patience and become ever more discontented and demanding. Impatience in our culture often results in restlessness, frustration, incivility, anger or even violence. We observe this every day on our roads and highways.
We can very easily lose our Christian witness by yielding to the flesh. The Adversary continuously tempts us to reveal his nature, rather than the nature of Christ. Impatience not only robs us of the peace and joy of Jesus, but it can also strain or ruin our relationships.
Patience and self-control are produced by the Holy Spirit in the life of the born-again believer. When we live by the Holy Spirit, we reveal the character of Christ to the world around us. (All following scripture emphasis is mine.)
Ephesians 5:1 AMP
Therefore become imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children
[imitate their father].
2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not
wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
We are to follow the Lord’s example of patience. The Greek word for the Lord’s patience communicates having “long” patience or endurance; it also denotes constancy, steadfastness and perseverance. Additionally, the word conveys the idea of being slow to avenge wrongs.
James 5:7-8
Be patient, then, 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 autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm,
because the Lord's coming is near.
James enjoins believers in these last days to be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s return is near! In Revelation 1:9 we learn that patient endurance is ours in Christ Jesus, and Revelation 13:10 instructs us that distressing times of great persecution call for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints.
Galatians 5:22-23
…the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and
self-control.
Colossians 3:12
…as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility,
gentleness and patience.
Hebrews 6:12
…imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.
Jesus preached about the Kingdom of God to His hearers:
Mark 4:26-32
He also said, "This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day,
whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself
the soil produces grain – first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the
grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come. Again he said, "What shall we say
the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? It is like a mustard seed, which is
the smallest seed you plant in the ground. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all
garden plants, with such big branches that the birds of the air can perch in its shade."
We must understand that there is a process to every purpose and plan of God. The Lord is not in a hurry – He will not be rushed, nor is He operating on our timetable!
Proverbs 19:2 AMP
Desire without knowledge is not good, and to be overhasty is to sin and miss the mark.
One translation says, “impatience will get you into trouble.”
Isaiah 40:31 NASU
…those who wait for the LORD
Will gain new strength;
They will mount up with wings like eagles,
They will run and not get tired,
They will walk and not become weary.
Ecclesiastes 3:1
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven…
Romans 5:6-7
You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.
The word for time is “kairos,” which refers to God’s timing – the “appointed time” when He acts! As we patiently wait for the Lord, we understand that His timing is perfect! To experience a bountiful harvest in our lives, we must be patient, trusting God as He orders our steps and leads us in His paths of righteousness and victory. To “know God” does not mean that we have to know “how or why.” Our faith does not rest on knowing the “hows” or the “whys” of this earthly life. Many things are beyond our understanding. The Lord reminds us:
Isaiah 55:8-9
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,"
declares the LORD.
"As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Our faith rests on our Lord’s holiness, integrity and faithfulness. We live by His inspired, infallible, and inerrant Word – through the power of His indwelling Holy Spirit. If we are going to thrive in this coming season of uncertainty and instability, we must walk by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).
In 2 Corinthians 12:9, Paul teaches us that God’s grace is sufficient. In our weakness, God’s power is made perfect. As we are faithful, our problems, pain and pressure will bring God’s power. We begin to view our circumstances from a higher vantage point. Much like the eagle who soars upward, the Lord “lifts us up,” and we then see “the bigger picture.” The closer we draw to Christ, the smaller our struggles will appear. We will mount up with wings like eagles. To “mount up” means to ascend – to rise. God gives us a new perspective on life’s challenges. Waiting for the Lord and His timing will increase our faith and strength, while our spiritual vision and discernment will become increasingly sharper.
Remember, delay does not mean denial! God is working all things for our good as we submit to Him!
Rom 8:28-29
…we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called
according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness
of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
Lamentations 3:25 TLB
The Lord is wonderfully good to those who wait for him, to those who seek for him.
Blessings ~
Pastor Paul