Today's post is by guest writer Joanne Beckley
The Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ.
2Thes 3:5
This is a benediction which all of us would like to receive. In Christ, patience has its perfection. Jesus did not have a life sheltered from the evils of this world created by mankind. But he endured with sensitivity, seeking out the good in people. His patience with his disciples was demonstrated over and over and over. Among all he met along the way He never showed impatience, but gave freely of the richest and best of His own life to heal and comfort. The majority rejected His gifts of love, but He never wearied in his offerings, even from his out-stretched arms on the cross.
So how do we demonstrate Jesus’ patience in us? He has given us all that we need, both from His example, and from within His words in order to exhibit the same patience. But perhaps we need to stop and consider whether our actions demonstrate the patience of Christ.
In the home
Too often we throw away thought filled words and are apt to speak or act disagreeably. We assert ourselves and are willfully exacting in our expectations. We lose our patience and speak unadvisedly and unkindly. These impatient words hurt and sometimes hurt irreparably.
Eph 6:4 “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger; but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”
1Pe 3:7 “You husbands likewise, live with [your wives] in an understanding way, as with a weaker vessel, since she is a woman; and grant her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.”
Wherever else we may fail in our patience, it should not be in our own homes. This is the place that should be the nearest we have to our heavenly home. But is it? We don’t have long to stay together and we should be patient and gentle for the time we may have.
In society
We need the patience of Christ with whomever we meet, in business or among all that we meet, including our neighbors. Not everyone is agreeable and reasonable to our efforts to be patient. They may be thinking of us as we do of them because we are not exhibiting Christ. If this is true, we may not be able to bring that person to Christ.
Ec 7:8 “The end of a matter is better than its beginning; Patience of spirit is better than haughtiness of spirit.”
Ro 2:4 “Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?”
In the church
We need the patience of Christ the moment we step into the company of His disciples. We are to bind up broken hearts, help the weak, and encourage the inexperienced with patient love. It is not a time to be self-seeking, but with patience seek to offer what is needed. All of us who would put our hands in any way on other lives need a large measure of the patience of Christ. Be patient and seek a good time to speak loving words. But in our very interest in others, we are in danger continually of speaking inopportunely.
Col 3:12-15 “And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. And beyond all these things [put on] love, which is the perfect bond of unity. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.”
The trials of life
We need patience all the more to face the trials of life. Remember all that Jesus endured during His trials. Consider all the wrongs that brought him pain and suffering and how they were faced. We must face the same in our own lives. This lesson is hard to learn. We will feel resentment, perhaps even to the point of verbal anger at what we feel is unfair or untrue. Jesus can help us to be silent and patient in the time of distress. He can turn our cry of pain into a song of submission and joy, for He is our source of peace. It is so important in every area of our lives to develop a willingness to persevere and be patient. Do not relax your vigilance. Often the need for patience will come as a surprise.
1Co 13:4 “Love is patient, love is kind, [and] is not jealous; love does not brag [and] is not arrogant, 5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong [suffered,] 6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
May the Lord direct your heart into the love of God and into the patience of Christ.
Joanne Beckley
The Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ.
2Thes 3:5
This is a benediction which all of us would like to receive. In Christ, patience has its perfection. Jesus did not have a life sheltered from the evils of this world created by mankind. But he endured with sensitivity, seeking out the good in people. His patience with his disciples was demonstrated over and over and over. Among all he met along the way He never showed impatience, but gave freely of the richest and best of His own life to heal and comfort. The majority rejected His gifts of love, but He never wearied in his offerings, even from his out-stretched arms on the cross.
So how do we demonstrate Jesus’ patience in us? He has given us all that we need, both from His example, and from within His words in order to exhibit the same patience. But perhaps we need to stop and consider whether our actions demonstrate the patience of Christ.
In the home
Too often we throw away thought filled words and are apt to speak or act disagreeably. We assert ourselves and are willfully exacting in our expectations. We lose our patience and speak unadvisedly and unkindly. These impatient words hurt and sometimes hurt irreparably.
Eph 6:4 “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger; but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”
1Pe 3:7 “You husbands likewise, live with [your wives] in an understanding way, as with a weaker vessel, since she is a woman; and grant her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.”
Wherever else we may fail in our patience, it should not be in our own homes. This is the place that should be the nearest we have to our heavenly home. But is it? We don’t have long to stay together and we should be patient and gentle for the time we may have.
In society
We need the patience of Christ with whomever we meet, in business or among all that we meet, including our neighbors. Not everyone is agreeable and reasonable to our efforts to be patient. They may be thinking of us as we do of them because we are not exhibiting Christ. If this is true, we may not be able to bring that person to Christ.
Ec 7:8 “The end of a matter is better than its beginning; Patience of spirit is better than haughtiness of spirit.”
Ro 2:4 “Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?”
In the church
We need the patience of Christ the moment we step into the company of His disciples. We are to bind up broken hearts, help the weak, and encourage the inexperienced with patient love. It is not a time to be self-seeking, but with patience seek to offer what is needed. All of us who would put our hands in any way on other lives need a large measure of the patience of Christ. Be patient and seek a good time to speak loving words. But in our very interest in others, we are in danger continually of speaking inopportunely.
Col 3:12-15 “And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. And beyond all these things [put on] love, which is the perfect bond of unity. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.”
The trials of life
We need patience all the more to face the trials of life. Remember all that Jesus endured during His trials. Consider all the wrongs that brought him pain and suffering and how they were faced. We must face the same in our own lives. This lesson is hard to learn. We will feel resentment, perhaps even to the point of verbal anger at what we feel is unfair or untrue. Jesus can help us to be silent and patient in the time of distress. He can turn our cry of pain into a song of submission and joy, for He is our source of peace. It is so important in every area of our lives to develop a willingness to persevere and be patient. Do not relax your vigilance. Often the need for patience will come as a surprise.
1Co 13:4 “Love is patient, love is kind, [and] is not jealous; love does not brag [and] is not arrogant, 5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong [suffered,] 6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
May the Lord direct your heart into the love of God and into the patience of Christ.
Joanne Beckley
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