Just a Little Patience Tuesday April 2, 2013

It seems some people are born with a more accommodating disposition while, for others of us, the amount of patience we have been blessed with is developed through our life experiences.   I am sure in our each of our lives we have all desired to have more patience as we encounter trials and shifting expectations.  We can get frustrated with the other’s timing or even God’s and through these times we develop different degrees of patience and accommodation.  The Bible also states that wisdom yields patience and I am not surprised that they are connected.  A deep and long view of situations can aid us in how we react as well as the amount of emotion we tie to particular circumstances.    

There are a number of examples of patience in the Bible, the most obvious one is Job.  In fact, a popular phrase has been coined to demonstrate this, “She must have the patience of Job.”  As wonderful of an example as Job is I think it pales in comparison to that of God’s long-suffering and patience with us and His people.    Numerous passages in the New Testament speak of His patience for us and it is demonstrated by Him through Christ.  The fact that it is one characteristics listed in Colossians 3:12 indicates that Christ is the ultimate example of living out the virtue of patience.  It is an attribute that we want to see lived out in the lives of our children in the hallway, on the bus, on the playground, and in our community.  We pray for the Spirit to move powerfully in the lives of the members of this community so we can clothe ourselves with Christ.  May you be impacted by the Spirit this week and throughout the remainder of this year. ~Mr. Bouwers