The Expositor’s Bible Commentary defines patience as the quality of putting up with others, even when one is severely tried. While, to me, that sounds like someone who can sit and drive in Atlanta’s traffic without yelling at the cars around them it really defines the character of God. Our Father is incredibly patient with us. He has been incredibly patient with man throughout all of time. He was patient with the Israelites, despite their repeated defections to worship idols. He shows loving patience in that He is slow to anger.
Isn’t that a great phrase—slow to anger? It’s easier for me to be slow to anger if I’m working with someone who is new at something—a baby just learning, someone new to our country, that kind of situation. But God is slow to anger with His children who have been His children for years and years. That kind of patience is incredible.
If there is any walk of life that has to develop patience and demonstrates it regularly, it would be the life of a farmer. Farmers must wait patiently for their crops to grow; nothing they can do will hurry the process. But the farmer doesn’t just plant the crops and then hope everything goes okay. There’s a lot of work to do to make sure the conditions are right for a good harvest. In the same way, we have to wait patiently for Christ’s return. But we don’t just hope everything goes okay; there is much work we can do to advance the Kingdom of God.
James 5 addresses patience, and specifically patience in suffering. James uses the analogy of a farmer. He encourages Christians to stand firm because the Lord’s coming is near. He also reminds them of Job, in the Old Testament, who was known for his patience. James wants those brothers and sisters in Christ to recognize the importance of patience.
Some days ago in this 50-Day Study, we talked about what a sailor does when there is no wind. He doesn’t just sit there hoping for a puff of breeze. There are things to do so that when the wind does blow again, he will be ready. He will position his sail to catch the wind, the studies the weather, he makes sure that his sails are mended and cared for; he makes sure that everything on the boat is sea-worthy. Then, when the wind comes, he opens his sail fully to catch that wind.
How’s your patience? Remember, patience is a facet of the fruit of the Spirit. If you have been transformed by the Spirit, you are growing the fruit of the Spirit.
What are a few situations in your life that require an extra measure of patience?
What are you doing in between episodes?
Do you find yourself primarily complaining about the irritant, or are you preparing yourself for a greater capacity for patience?
How will today’s study help you in the next episode where your patience will be tested?
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