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Love is Patient
1Cor13
Hebrews six tells us that Abraham, because he patiently endured, received the promise. The promise was to receive the Spirit, a Promised Land, A Promised Child, and a lasting inheritance. We talk about Abraham’s faith but not often about his patience. Abraham was a patient man. He waited years for his son Isaac but he did not waver, instead his faith grew stronger. He did not look at the natural facts of his life but kept his focus on what God had promised and because he weathered time, he received. So let us look at patience. We learn from the letter of James that “let patience have its perfect work that we may be perfect and complete, not lacking anything.” (Jm1:4) The benefits of patience are great. When we have mastered the flesh we have accomplished a mighty work. We become perfect and complete and have no lack. When we operate in the flesh it demonstrates an absence of patience. Lust, the need to have it at once, is a lack of patience. Anger, not getting our way, demonstrates a lack of patience. Moses when he struck the rock twice, was angry, and because of that did not enter the Promised Land. Fear, jealousy, envy, and greed are forms of impatience. Not being able to wait on God and having bad thoughts about people because of what they have and you don’t are forms of impatience. That is why we must let patience have its work. Through patience we learn to crucify the flesh. A patient person is spiritual. People recognize it. They see the difference. It is important to develop patience. Through it we obtain what God wants to give us and we become valuable to the body of Christ. Through faith and patience we inherit the promises of God. Patience is the long way. Most of us want it at once. We don’t want trials. We don’t want to wait. But the trial of our faith is more precious than gold and it is more precious because it produces patience and the reward of patience is that God can trust us with gifts and blessings which are a benefit to the body of Christ. Almost all of the people of God were tested. Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Daniel, David, Elijah, and Elisha all had challenges to face. It is through the trials that they grew and developed. It is through the challenges that they showed their trust in God and became models for us to emulate. Take a deep breath and accept the challenge to become a person of patience. If you truly want the blessings of God, then it is not only by faith, but by faith and patience. If you truly want patience, you will have to crucify the flesh. You will have to be delivered from the spirit of anger, jealousy, greed, and all the other vices. But if you weather time, and exercise agape love, you will be a blessing to God and the church, the body of Christ. Pray for patience. Amen |