In today’s fast-paced society, self-centered culture, patience is quickly disappearing. The people of God, on the other hand, should be a model of patience.
Galatians 5.22-25
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.”
Patience is the Greek makrothumia. It is a combination of makros which means “long,” and thumos which means “temper, or intense anger.” It literally means to be long-tempered rather than short-tempered.
Patience is the willingness to endure difficult people and challenging circumstances without blowing up with frustration or striking out in anger. It is also the willingness to persevere and do what needs to be done for as long as it takes. There will be people who irritate you.
There will be situations that frustrate you. There will be plans and projects that take a long time and a lot of effort to achieve.
(Eph. 4:1-3).
The apostle Paul instructed the believers in Ephesus and Asia Minor to “lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace”.
it says in James 5. “See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.”
Impatience diminishes our perseverance, and it happens when we complain about working the process, or get frustrated about the time that is required, or get irritated at the obstacles we have to deal with.
The biblical portrait of patience is not that of mere tolerance while we bide the time; rather, patience is a dynamic and powerful spiritual discipline that is deeply rooted in our faith in the sovereignty of God and in God’s promise to bring all things to completion in a way that most fully demonstrates his glory.
With this in mind, we must respond to fellow believers as those who, like us, are sinners saved by grace. We must show grace to one another, and the integrity of our profession must be demonstrated by the patience of our spirit.
Even as we seek to convince, instruct, and correct, we must always remember that only God can reach the human heart, and we must maintain the confidence that he is at work in those who are fellow recipients of his grace.