Patience Please? Now! (Part 1)
Go anywhere, converse with anyone, or group, and you’ll discover that patience is universally respected and regarded yet scarcely practice. It has been replaced with personal need for instant pleasure and the need for instant satisfaction. People are in such a rush these days that “the moment” is too long, waiting is unacceptable and the desire for instant response makes patience a thing of the past.
There was a time when a child who repeatedly demanded his supper before his mother could finish cooking it, that the mother would introduce a portion of patience that would guide her loved one to learn patience. Now so common today in a society where children are treated as “friends and equals”. Parents lose control, then children lose control and the pendulum of rage and impatience swings in a never-ending conflict between “adult” and child. Notice that I did not use the term “parent” here because the word parent implies parenting, which is child rearing. That is the process of promoting and supporting the physical, emotional, and spiritual ideals for the child to grow and become a useful part of the church and of society. Therefore, in the “old days”, the mother turned to the child and said, “What you need is a big helping of patience!”, then applied that helping. Impatient parents will raise up impatient children, but parents who patiently teach their children will see happy days in their own future and the future of their children’s children.
Patience can only be acquired by patience: Two words are translated “patience” in our New Testament Bible. One is the Greek word [μακροθυμία], [makrothumia] which is a compound word [from 3117 /makrós, “long”] and [2372 /thymós, “passion, anger”]. The image is of one who has patience, one who takes a long time to get angry. The second is from [ὑπομονή], [hupomoné] which is also a compound word [from 5259 /hypó, “under”] and [3306 /ménō, “remain, endure”] The image here is of one who can be under immense pressure and remain calm, steadfast.
Patience is not a virtue which is, “fully turned on and mature” when we realized we don’t have it and choose to obtain it. It requires effort, commitment, and of all thing’s humbleness. For almost everyone it is a part of our character that must be developed over time. This is a critical character trait and not an optional trait and every child of God must develop patience, it is a necessary part of the Christian’s character. It is not, therefore, an optional attribute. As Christians, we must be characterized by patience – our soul’s destiny depends upon it!
Listed in 2 Peter 1:5-11 at verse 6, the apostle lists patience among the essential components of the one who is to make his “calling and election sure.” It is translated as [perseverance, NIV, NKJV], [patient endurance, NLT], [steadfastness, ESV], and [patience, KJV]. The same picture is painted via all these terms. Notice that Peter says, “giving all diligence” (v.5). All diligence requires focused concentration upon the goal.
Scriptures often relate patience to tribulations. Paul uses the term “patient in tribulation” (Rom. 12:12). This is a verb [hupomenó] that means literally bearing up under a load. James writes of this saying, “2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces [a]patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be [b]perfect and complete, lacking nothing” (Jas. 1:2-4). We are children in God’s family and hardship, and difficulty of every kind will come in the form of pressure, and we must learn to “abide under” them letting them literally be the tool that helps us develop good in our character.
Both the physical and spiritual hardships that confront us on a regular basis are overcome through the development of a patient spirit which comes from meditation and practice of the word of God. We all have “the inward man”¸ which when we practice patience through the guidance of the scripture, will be, “renewed day by day” (2 Cor. 4:16). Whether your handicap is spiritual or physical you can through patience be empowered to joyfulness in recognizing that it is your “…Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself” (Phil. 3:20-21). Possible because, the physical body does not control the spirit, the Spirit of God controls the spirit within the body. Paul wrote, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Cor. 5:17).
When we “feel” overwhelmed, when emotional turmoil confronts us, often we seek out another friend, coworker or spouse to lay our troubles, or burdens upon. Though there is nothing wrong with sharing your troubles with trusted friends, we must not forget about the Friend we have in
“Here is the [a]patience of the saints; here[b] are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.” Revelation 14:12
Jesus. Peter said, “6Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Pet. 5:6-7). There are benefits that accompany giving your troubles over to the Lord. For one thing, you are getting help from the One who understands completely what our need is, more that we ourselves. Two, let us not forget who He is, “God”, “Creator”, “Holy Spirit”, and “Son”. Who better is able to handle our problems? Therefore, “6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:6-7). God will take care of you for we know that, “13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to [a]bear it” (1 Cor. 10:13). Satan will cast his darts but with God and Christ on our side, we can perceiver by patiently trusting in the power of the Lord and the Holy Spirit because regardless what the trial is you can above all take on, “…the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.” (Eph. 6:16).
If you are looking for examples look no further that Jesus who demonstrated by His very life and death the greatest example of patience the world has every known. Consider that Satan used all of his weapons on Jesus, he threw everything he had in his arsenal and not one was successful. Offering food when the Lord was hungry didn’t work, tempting Jesus to prove Himself didn’t work, nor did Satan’s temptation of kingdoms and riches sway Jesus (Matt. 4:1-11). Nor did man’s efforts to pressure Jesus bear any fruit, for Jesus remained in control under tremendous attacks against His character, His divinity, and His kingship. We sometimes think of Jesus as being isolated from the effects of temptation since He never sinned when the opposite is true. You and I have never felt the full effect of temptation in the points where we sinned. Satan did not have to keep intensifying the pressure because we gave in early. Jesus is the only one ever in human history to receive the full onslaught of temptation and remain patient. The Hebrew letter says that he was “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Heb. 4:15) He is the perfect example of patience!
In Love
dave
“4 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the [a]patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. 5 Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus,” (Romans 15:4-6)
Our faithful Creator is worthy to be praised in this assembly. All praise to Him who reigns above in majesty supreme! He gave His Son to die, for all mankind, that He might redeem all. Our blessed Redeemer suffered and died for our sins and is now risen and sitting at the right hand of God as Head of the church. Let us offer the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, knowing that He is the author of eternal salvation to all those who obey Him. (Hebrews 5:8-9) “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!” (Isaiah 6:3)
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What Must I Do to Be Saved?
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