Patience for Patience!

Reading: Revelations 1:9-20

"Let patience have her perfect work,

that you may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing" (Js 1:4)

One of the most startling statements Jesus made to His disciples was, "I no longer call you servants... Now you are My friends" (Jn 15:15). It is unlikely that the disciples at that time understood its full implication. What Jesus meant was intimate fellowship with Him in life and death. After Easter and Pentecost the disciples started growing deeper and deeper in that fellowship through the power of the Holy Spirit. This companionship in Spirit with Jesus was expressed in their lives through various characteristics of His person. One such character was patience. After walking with Christ for over 60 years, Apostle John at the end of his life declared that he was a "companion in the patience of Jesus" (Rev 1:9).

The very name of the Almighty is the "God of Patience" (Rom 15:5). Though Christian life is a race, it must be run with patience (Heb 12:1). According to Paul, a strong Christian is one who is patient and longsuffering (Col 1:11). The first three in the list of the fruits of the Spirit are the outcome of the next six virtues. Patience is the first of the six (Gal 5:22,23). It is given top priority in the classic description of Christian love (1 Cor 13:4). Patience is the perfecting power of spirituality (Js 1:4).

Man lost Paradise because of impatience. This cardinal sin has plagued every section of the society and is invading every quarter of the Church. More patience in the business world would mean less corruption in transactions. More patience in family life would mean less broken homes. More patience in highways would mean less patients in hospitals. More patience in Christian life would mean less weaklings in the Church. More patience in the Christian work would mean less carnality in the methods. So goes the list. Lengthening our patience is the best way to shorten our troubles!

No other virtue like patience needs so much patience to cultivate it. When we lose patience we lose everything. All the good things we have done can be destroyed by one act of impatience. To be patient is more difficult in these days than in the yesteryears. A young girl after listening to her pastor preach on patience prayed, "Lord, give me patience; I want it right now!" The moment you decide to be patient, legions of situations will arise to try your patience. Don't give up! The ultimate victory of the saints over Satan is through patience (Rev 13:10; 14:12). Patience is power!

Only a little while of walking with weary feet,
Patiently over the thorny way that leads to the golden street!
(M.P.A. Crozier)

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Patience: NextSEPT 25