Written by Pastor Jack Wellman– Warren Wiersbe
Some of your greatest blessings come with patience.
What is Patience?
James doesn’t mention the word patience but I believe he comes close to describing it in James 1:19 “let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.” Patience might include living what Paul wrote about , saying I “urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love” (Eph 4:1-2). Patience is one of the fruits of the Spirit (Gal 5:22). It is “With patience a ruler may be persuaded, and a soft tongue will break a bone” (Prov 25:15). We should be “but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises” (Heb 6:12). James wrote “As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord” (James 5:10).
Patient in His Return
The children of God know that Jesus is coming and “if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience” (Rom 8:25). Paul wrote “I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life” (1 Tim 1:16). Patience allows us to know that the eternal inheritance is ours (Rom 2:7; Heb 6:12) as Jesus Himself testified “I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary” (Rev 2:3). It is “with patience, bearing with one another in love” that allows believers to endure one another (Eph 4:2).
The Blessings of Patience
Jacob was patient for he knew what was to come and “served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her” (Gen 29:20). Paul wrote “Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring” (1 Thess 1:4) but what did this prove? It proved one thing; Paul saw this as “evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering” (1 Thess 1:5). Like the saints of old, we are looking for a country of our own (Heb 11:14) which is “a better county – a heavenly one” (Heb 11:16). To know our eternal future home is secure is truly a blessing and this ought to give us more patience in living in this present, evil world.
Conclusion
We are so blessed and many of these blessings come from our patience; patience to suffer, patience to endure insults, patience to bear reproach, patience to bear with one another in love and patience in waiting for the King of kings to come someday, which will be the greatest blessing we will ever see with our eyes.
