Galatians 5:22-24 New King James Version (NKJV)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 [a]gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Notice it says long suffering, it is one thing to suffer, but long suffering is taking it to another level. Long suffering is bearing with the offences and provocation of others without fighting back. It is bearing and going through all the troubles and difficulties of life without murmuring and submitting cheerfully to every dispensation of Gods providence. It is being patience with a good attitude.
Now if we were to honest with ourselves that is something that is lacking in many of us today. Any time we go through a season of difficulty, or we have to wait and exercise patience, we whine and complain and we begin doubting the love of God for us. We are so used to instant tea and coffee, microwaves, instant money transfer and all manner of instant things that we expect the things of God to work in the same manner. We no longer have an appreciation for the process forgetting that the process is what causes growth and change in us.
The interesting thing is this, when we are dealing with others, we are so impatient and we don’t want anyone to tell us about longsuffering. On the other hand, when we are the ones who need mercy, we expect others to be very patient with us
Think about Job of old and how he had to go through hardship but he was longsuffering and he endured till the end without complaining. Abraham waited for the promised son for 100 years patiently without complaining. What about Saul later know as Paul? He wrote a good portion of the New Testament though he went through prison, shipwrecks, flogging and many other difficulties without complaining. Jesus whom we are all striving to emulate, did he not undergo suffering and shame without complaining? Did He not say not my will but your will be done? That is the example that has been set before us.
For the Holy Spirit to give us the fruit of longsuffering, it means we shall have to bear one with another and we will go through hardships in our lives.
In your troubles and hardships, don’t complain, don’t doubt God, be patient and pray that the fruit of longsuffering be developed in your life.
Reflective Thoughts
Are you good at waiting and what kind of attitude do you have when you experience delays?
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What one thing have you ever had to wait for and it seemed like God was taking his sweet time, what lessons did you learn from the experience?
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Romans 5:3-4
3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces [b]perseverance; 4 and perseverance, [c]character; and character, hope.
