Today, we look at patience as
a spiritual fruit. This means that patience must necessarily be a part of the
life of the believer. Patience is
revealed in us as we wait upon others. Patience is also manifested as endurance,
what we might call perseverance. We must be patient in both of these ways.
In this exhortation, I would like us to think about the
patience or lack of patience that we show with others. In an earlier sermon, we
saw that patience is a direct application of love. Love is patient. And, now we
see that patience is also an expectation of all who call themselves Christian.
Are you patient? Are you willing to wait upon the Lord as He
teaches others what you already know? Or, do you get impatient with them,
revealing your impatience with the Lord? Are you patient with your spouse as
you realize that you do not see things the same way? Do you try to enter into
her world and understand where she is coming from? Are you patient with your
boss when he does not seem to fully understand the situation you are in? Are
you patient with those who report to you as they must learn all the things you
learned long ago? Are you patient with your children as they try to grow up but
constantly make childish mistakes? Children, are you patient with your friends
and siblings, or do you get easily bothered by them?
It is a lack of love that lashes out, gets frustrated, is
irritated and constantly reveals impatience. So, we must confess our impatience
as sin and ask God to teach us how to love, thus revealing this fruit of the
Spirit called patience.
No comments:
Post a Comment