<![CDATA[Wordsurfers - Thoughts]]>

Fruits of the Spirit – Patience
1 Corinthians 13 2 Peter 3

A soldier who received a medal for valour was asked about courage. He said that courage wasn’t the absence of fear, they had been very afraid in the battle but when the call came they rose up and did their duty.
In a similar way patience is not the absence of impatience. It’s not that we’re never inclined to feel irritated by something bad or don’t look forward eagerly to something good. We get frustrated with unpleasant things and long for them to be over. We might have a birthday or a holiday or a special occasion coming up and we’re naturally excited and say, ‘I can’t wait!’ But wait we often must and learning to wait is part of patience. But patience is more than that.
In 1 Corinthians 13 the Apostle Paul speaks about love and the first word he uses to describe it is ‘patient’. Love is patient. Patience is love in practice.
Now it’s not naïve. It’s not turning a blind eye or pretending something isn’t there. Love protects. There may be situations where intervention is necessary to stop abuse. This passage goes on to speak about evil and truth. Love is honest. It knows the truth, even the unpleasant parts, but here’s the thing, it refuses to nurse a grudge. Instead it patiently and repeatedly chooses where possible to show grace, forgiveness and kindness.
Love suffers long, holds on to hope, believes in better, perseveres under pressure, gives another chance, and another. Why?
Because God is patient with sinners!
He doesn’t treat us as our sins deserve but is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He gives every last chance for us to repent and change our ways and escape the coming judgement.
We might observe the patience of the Lord in how Jesus works with His disciples. They are loyal, they do believe he’s their Messiah but at times they seem desperately slow to grasp His teaching and the ways of His kingdom. There are occasions in the Gospels where Jesus sounds quite disappointed and even exasperated with them. Their fear, their lack of faith, their preoccupation with themselves and who might be the greatest even as they approach Jerusalem and the cross.
Yet how gently and graciously He persists, taking time to teach and correct them. Investing in them. Loving them.
He entrusts them with responsibility for His Church, His beloved people whom He will call and save from every nation. He sends the Holy Spirit to live in our hearts and among us as communities of faith to remind us of everything He taught and to help us become more like Him in character with qualities like love, joy, peace and patience.
The Book of Acts records how the Apostles got on in those early years and again the Bible is such an honest book! These men were Jewish and despite Jesus’ instructions to go into the world and make disciples of all nations they were hesitant at first to venture beyond their own people.
But the Spirit was patiently working in them, producing Christlike grace and obedience so we read of Philip preaching in Samaria and to an Ethiopian, Peter testifying to a Roman Cornelius and Saul of Tarsus being dramatically converted and transformed to become Paul, the pioneering missionary to ‘gentiles’ from many races.
To this day God the Spirit is at work drawing people to Jesus worldwide. It has taken a long time, around 2000 years, not because the Spirit is deficient but because too often we have been self-centred and complacent about sharing our faith. We have neglected our Master’s great Commission and so some areas and peoples remain unreached with the Gospel.
Apostasy and the increase of wickedness are common as Jesus predicted yet still the Spirit is well able and willing to bring saving grace where Christians are willing to be His witnesses.
I wonder if anyone else here today ever feels impatient for evil and sadness to end? Anyone here tired of tragedy, cruelty and lies? Anyone longing for the comfort of heaven?
The Bible promises a day is coming when Christ will return and end evil and suffering and gather His finally completed people to Himself. Ok then let’s finish the job we’ve been given! Let’s fulfill His Commission to evangelise the world and look with longing for His coming! The Spirit will help us be patient and faithful to our calling and finish the course God has set for us.
Our waiting will not be in vain.