Saturday, June 13, 2015

June 14, 2015

"Love is patient. Love is kind." I Corinthians 13:4

Remember that patience in this context means taking grief from others and responding with grace. Patience is absorbing unkindness and giving back kindness.

Who does that?

Let me drop a few names you may recognize:

God - II Peter 3:9


Jesus on the cross - "Father, forgive them....." 


Job - In all his suffering he never cursed God or reacted unkindly to friends

Joseph - Though he was sold by his brothers, falsely imprisoned, and lied to he never reacted unkindly or inappropriately

The Good Samaritan - He bravely rescued a gravely injured Jew who would have never done the save for him!

Moses - Provided faithful and steady leadership to God's people though they rebelled and often grumbled against him.

David - While he was being harassed and hunted down by King Saul, he resisted several chances to retaliate against him.

John - Once called by Jesus "the son of thunder" for his impatience became the Apostle of Love, returning grace for grief.

Noah - For over a century he patiently constructed the Ark while enduring constant ridicule, always returning kindness for unkindness.

Sermon on the Mount - In His first great sermon Jesus taught patience and kindness against the harshness of the Romans. Remember "turn the  other cheek" and "go the second mile"?

Wow! Quite the impressive list!

"But, Brad." you may be thinking, "These are all heroes of the Bible! I'm just an average person! How can I do what they did?"

The truth is, you can do it the very same way they did it, in the power of the Holy Spirit. When your will is one with God's Spirit and He fills you with His fruit you will have patience!

"But the Spirit produces the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. There is no law that says these things are wrong." Galatians 5:22-23