We are going to look at a word that maybe increasingly overlooked because of the fast world that we live in where everything seems to go at a breakneck pace which our life is expected to keep up with.
Time passes so quickly! A good example is what I term as the McDonald chip syndrome, I think their chips are specifically designed for one to follow the other at maximum speed to enable us to speedily consume a meal. It seems like we only just arrived and suddenly it’s time to go as the meal is consumed, the description of fast food is certainly a very apt title!! Maybe we ought to learn from those countries who have long leisurely shared lunches where eating is an event not a pastime, as in, the meal rapidly disappears into the past of time!!
Given these conditions and the resultant expectations produced, we can unknowingly follow the story of the vulture that said, patience my eye, I’m gonna kill something. Put plainly, we take matters into our own hands even when like the vulture it means going against our natural inclinations. Consequently, we often leap in, where angels fear to tread.
Turning to a keynote bible passage I have been struck as to how the word we will consider is the first characteristic mentioned, in 1 Corinthians 13, love is described and the first characteristic given is patience. The gravitas of this passage and its detail is given by1 John 1 v 8 which defines God as being love.
Further, patience is not just an important word for love but is also the key to being faithful as well! So, the importance of patience can never be understated.
It perfectly fits any question we ask of the Lord when He gives His three basic responses of yes, no and wait. Here, it is vital to exercise our patience as we wait on the lord for how His yes answer is to be carried out, whilst with the answer no, patience is required to wait for what else He has for us. Lastly, and the one I find the most difficult is wait, because through my limited thinking it’s an answer that appears to have no clearly definable outcome.
There are many examples of patience in the Bible, obviously the greatest patience exhibited is by God who in the face of sinful humanity remains faithful. Other examples are Abraham waiting for the child that would realise God’s word to him concerning his descendants being as numerous as the grains of sand on the shore and another is the Jews waiting in intense anticipation for the Messiah’s arrival. Then there is Moses, who went from being a prince to waiting in the desert for 40 years for God’s call.
Each of these examples also shows what impatience brings! Abraham had a child who wasn’t included in God’s promise, the Jews completely missed the messiah’s arrival whilst Mose’s timing of leading his people didn’t coincide with the Lord’s.
Exercising patience shows great commitment, faithfulness, obedience, trust and should be without condemnation or our will, not the Lords being done. This exhibits a true faithfulness and acknowledgement that what we are doing is something we believe in, despite any resultant temptations arising and/or adversity that comes our way.
In short, patience, when rightly applied shows our love for the Lord.
With all blessings
Tony
PS This blog is normally updated each Monday.