Patience…
not the game…not the 2006 Take That song…the characteristic or attribute.
Patience is probably something we’d all love to have more of.
Patience is probably something we wish other people showed more of to us.
Patience is probably one of the hardest things to exhibit in a world driven by speed and deadlines, where things are constantly on the go.
Patience is also an attribute that describes the God of the Bible.
A phrase the Bible often uses to portray God’s patience is ‘slow to anger’.
When giving the two stone tablets with the 10 commandments to Moses for the 2nd time God describes himself in this way…
“And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin.”
(Exodus 34:6)
It’s a great picture of what God is like that is repeated throughout scripture. God’s compassion, love, faithfulness...and his patience.
OK…we may reply. God describes himself as patient. But why is this something I should be thankful for?
1. God’s patience is why we are a Christian
If you’re a Christian and reading this then we can look back at our lives and be grateful that God hasn’t written us off.
Before the eyes of our heart were opened to the Lord Jesus and his saving work we lived a life of rebellion against God. If we’d been looking at our actions and decisions during this time we would have run out of patience with ourselves. But God was patient with us and continues to be so. Whereas we would have run out of patience God through His Spirit was slowly softening our hearts over time.
2. God’s patience with me gives me hope for those around me
Looking to the end of time the apostle Peter encourages believers to remember that God’s patience means more people coming to salvation.
“Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him.”
(2 Peter 3:15)
God’s patience with us should be an encouragement that God’s mercy and patience can extend to those around us.
Jesus will not return until all those in the book of life have been saved.
Maybe we’ve been praying for children or spouses or friends to come to know Jesus for years.
Maybe we’ve seen answers to these prayers.
Maybe we are still waiting on God.
God’s patience means that there is hope that he will bring a change in the lives of those we love.
Yet Exodus 34 also reminds us that God’s patience will not last forever.
“Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.”
(Exodus 34:6-7)
God is patient with us.
He holds back his anger so that more people will be added to God’s kingdom.
But there will come a time when Jesus Christ will return and every knee will bow before him. Those who have trusted in him will be called to an everlasting inheritance. Those who have ignored him will face everlasting condemnation.
So give thanks for God’s patience.
Remember the hope that God’s patience extends for those around us.
Keep praying and sharing the good news of Jesus Christ in our words and deeds so that others too will know of the salvation found in Him.
Yorumlar