Patience

Hello everyone,

How are you doing on this day? I hope well and bubbling in the Lord.

Primary Text

“For this very reason, adding your diligence [to the divine promises], employ every effort in exercising your faith to develop virtue (excellence, resolution, Christian energy), and in [exercising] virtue [develop] knowledge (intelligence), And in [exercising] knowledge [develop] self-control, and in [exercising] self-control [develop] steadfastness (patience, endurance), …” 2 Peter 1v5-6 (AMP)

In addition to the promises we have, and faith, we have been encouraged to apply all effort to develop virtue, knowledge, self-control, and to that, patience. Hebrews 10v36 (KJV) says “For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.” Oh, we have need of patience (an even temper, forbearance) for different dimensions of our lives. How many people give up on the verge of their breakthrough, because they weren’t patient enough? Our God is a patient God. Some may say why hasn’t He come back all this time we have been saying Jesus is coming back soon, but 2 Peter 3v9 (AMP) says “The Lord does not delay and is not tardy or slow about what He promises, according to some people’s conception of slowness, but He is long-suffering (extraordinarily patient) toward you, not desiring that any should perish, but that all should turn to repentance.” Someone asked the other day, what is this love? And immediately one thing that came to mind from 1 Corinthians 13 is that love is patient. How many of us truly demonstrate love towards others? Being forbearing with them? But child of God, we cannot afford to be impatient. Hebrews 6v12 (NIV) tells us “We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.” James 1v2-4 (NLT) says “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.” Brethren, let us grow in patience, endurance.

Prayer

Father, I thank You for Your Word. Help me to be patient in Jesus name, amen.