07/19/2024
Let’s Stay Together
Ephesians 4: 2 (NLT) Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. 3 (NLT) Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.
There are three indispensable requirements for a Christian: 1. Patience 2. Patience 3. Patience. Patience literally means “long temper,” in the sense of “the ability to hold one’s temper and endure suffering for a long time.” The KJV translates it “long-suffering.” Patience is defined in the dictionary as “the quality that does not surrender to circumstances or succumb under trial.” Patience is divinely designed to undergird all the other fruit of the spirit listed in Galatians 5:22-23. Lack of patience displays a lack of humility and a lack of love. Paul says, “Love is patient” (1 Cor 13:4). To have patient love, we must endure annoyances and challenges over a period of time. How do you cultivate patience? By relying on the Spirit!” A patient person is able to endure much pain and suffering without complaining or compromising. Patience is likely one of the most difficult fruit of the Spirit to develop, but it’s required to receive from and become like God. God is long-suffering and full of mercy. Therefore patience comes from a position of power not weakness. Patience isn’t passive—it’s very active! Patience is persevering in your faith, which means you aren’t letting anything or anyone talk you out of what you’re trusting for. The Spirit of God through patience will never let you settle for anything less than God’s best. Hebrews 6:12 (NIV) admonishes us, “We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.” Patience is the key to possessing God’s promises! God’s promises are too legit to quit!
