“Patience”

Galatians 5:22-25 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”

Sometimes I really love to write these parts of my blog.  Other times, well, I really don’t like the task.  Not because of what I read in scripture, but rather to see the scripture as a measuring stick.  And so often, I am measuring up short.

I’ve always loved the Fruits of the Spirit.  Loved to read about them and ponder them.  However, each time I really contemplate them, I always seem to fall short.  And Patience is a virtue that I am not abounding with at the moment.

The dictionary defines patience as ” the quality of being patient, as the bearing of provocation, annoyance, misfortune, or pain, without complaint, loss of temper, irritation, or the like.”  And that is a hard task as stated.

However, when you look at Biblical patience, it’s even more astounding.   The John Gill Exposition of the Entire Bible says of patience or longsuffering, ” which intends not so much a patient waiting for good things to come, for more grace, and for glory, through the Spirit; but a patient bearing and enduring of present evils with joyfulness, being strengthened by the Spirit with all might, according to his glorious power; being slow to anger, ready to forgive injuries, put up with affronts, and bear with, and forbear one another: and which is usually accompanied with gentleness, humanity, affability, courteousness, shown both in words, gestures, and actions; in imitation of the gentleness of Christ, and agreeably to that wisdom, that heavenly doctrine of the Gospel, which, among other things, is said to be gentle, and easy to be entreated.”

You see, I think of this in context to how I’ve responded to my children lately.  And I’m ashamed.  I preach to them about following Christ, yet my own life is not always a good example of how to follow.  Recently, I’ve made an attempt to really spend more time in daily Bible reading and prayer.  And I know that our Lord is faithful and just to give us the things that we ask that are according to His will.  And I know from the scripture that He desires for us to have the gift of patience.  As our family expands, I can see the need for my savior more and more.  For in my own strength, I always fail miserably.  Yet through His grace, may I come to succeed.  This year, I am setting out on a journey to become more Christ like in all aspects of my life.  Hopefully, a year from now, I’ll be able to look back and see how much my “fruit” has grown, especially concerning the area of patience.