Living Beyond Yourself - Session 6 - Patience Waits

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience...

Galatians 5:22a

1. Love never fails. 2. Joy cometh. 3. Peace rules. 4. Patience waits.

As I said in my previous post, this was a tough topic, slicing through all layers of pretense.
Beth divided this into 3 parts:
1. The Complication of Patience:
-We are called to wait patiently for the Lord as He waits patiently for the lost. (James 5:7-9,11)

2. The Call to Patience:
-Quoting from Colossians 3:12-13 and Ephesians 4:1-2, Beth notes that patience is coupled with bearing one another. The Greek definition of forbearance encompasses both holding up and holding back.

3. The Completion of Patience:
-James 1:2-4 says that practicing patience helps complete something lacking in us. Like gold under tremendous heat, our 'impurities' come to the surface, sometimes dribbling up, or sometimes explosively, so that the Refiner can skim it away. That 'heat' in our lives are people, or 'patient-ees' as Beth calls them, who:
-bring out the worst in us.
-keep us from thinking too highly of ourselves.
-keep our pretenses from working.
We actually do not have to go far away to find such people. As a mother and wife, we live with them! I mean, I would have been 'perfect' or at least a whole lot holier, if my husband and children just cooperated with me! Aha! As Beth says, it has taken a while, but I am finally seeing that my husband is just who I needed to become a holy vessel. Unlike other relationships which I can avoid, I have to work on this one, not only for us, but we have children looking on, picking up our attitudes, our relationship dynamics. That is scary and humbling. It is here that I acknowledge my complete need for the Lord to fill me and change me, because I do not have it in me.

2Corinthians 4:10-12 talks about God working 'life' in one person, and 'death' in another. It just could be that God is using that 'patientee' in your life to crucify that old nature in you, and bring to life His life in the 'patientee'. When you come to the point that that 'patientee' is no longer bringing out the worst in you, but the best of God's patience, then patience has done its work. Oh yeah.

There is one special friend I have who underwent serious demoralization in the workplace where her supervisors are Christians. She was crying much of the time. I used to get so angry and wanted her to quit badly. She stayed for the longest while, continually surrendering to God, continually forgiving even while hurting. She knew that God was allowing everything to change her heart. Finally, a new door opened, and she left with a clean conscience. How beautiful she is to me. She is an example to me of the fruit of the Spirit - patience. Thank you, S.

We live in a culture that breeds impatience, a culture of entitlement. Look at how people react here when there is a power cut, or flight cancellation due to weather conditions. Then look at how my friend, Amrita, reacts. God has been training her in a life full of interruptions and she blesses me with her attitude.

Father, please help me. I'm afraid of seeing those 'impurites' head-on. But I know it needs to be dealt with. Help me not to run away as I am prone to do, but look to everything that You have allowed to touch my life today, as a lesson from You. Give me the wisdom, the grace, the knowledge, the patience. I love You for the patience You continually pour out for me. I would have given up on me a long time ago. Fill me please, with Your Spirit.
In Jesus' Name, Amen.