In This Issue:
Patience, according to the Bible
By Patience…
Has to Be Experienced
Wait Patiently
Bulb to Flower
Can You Do Better
Volume: 856 April 25, 2022
Theme: Patience
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Patience, According to the Bible
Bill Brinkworth
Patience is not a character trait that many strive to develop. In this fast-paced world, more have to have it their way — now. Any waiting involved will soon discourage or aggravate many.
People will not wait for what they think they should earn, so they leave a job rather than serve more time and be promoted. Traffic jams frustrate many and tempers are often lost, resulting in their publically expressing their dissatisfaction. Some will not attempt to curb their eating habits by persevering through difficult temptations, so they seek some pill or operation that will take the weight off of them immediately. Others give up sitting on the sport’s bench, because others are playing, and they are not, so they quit. Students do not have the fortitude to study for themselves, so they cheat on tests. Impatience looms all around us.
Patience is spoken about much in the New Testament. It is rarely mentioned in the Old Testament, perhaps because now, in an era that we are to live more by faith and less by sight, patience may be tested more.
Here are some Bible teachings about patience:
God is patient.
“Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:” Rom. 15:5
Not all have patience.
“For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.” Heb. 10:36
Christians are to seek and have patience.
“But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.” I Tim. 6:11
“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,” Heb. 12:1 Also: Eccl. 7:8, Tit. 2:2, I Thes. 5:14.
If people persevere in obedience to do what the Bible teaches, they will reap benefits.
“But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.” Luke 8:15 Also: Rev. 3:10.
If Christians will not quit through difficult times, and persevere, they will be more patient, better Christians, and will be stronger.
“Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” James 1:3-4
“Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.” James 5:11
“And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:” Rom. 5:3-4 Also: Rom. 15:4, Rom. 2:7, Rom. 12:12, Col. 1:11.
The Lord will help a Christian be more patient.
“And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.“ II Thes. 3:5
Patience in a Christian is a good testimony (example) of them personally and of Christianity.
“Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.” James 5:10 Also: II Thes. 1:4, I Tim. 3:3, Heb. 12:1.
Christians need to wait patiently on the Lord’s working and timing.
“And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.” II Thes. 3:5 Also: James 5:7-8.
God knows of our patience, or lack of it.
“I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:” Rev. 2:2 Also: Rev. 2:3, 19.
Christians are never to stop being patient in living by faith (Heb. 11:6).
“Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;” Also: Rom. 12:12.
Those in the ministry should have patience.
“And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,” II Tim. 2:24
“But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,” II Cor. 6:4 Also: I Tim. 3:3, I Tim. 6:1, James 5:10.
“The elevator to success is out of order. You’ll have to use the stairs, one step at a time.” — Author Unknown
By Patience …
Henry Smith, 1871
- By patience, Job heard all the torments that the devil could heap upon him.
- By patience, Jacob put up with a thousand wrongs from Laban and his children and never complained in 21 years before he departed.
- By patience, Joseph forgave his brethren when he might have put them to death and gave them food when they feared revenge.
- By patience, Christ suffered banishment, reproaches, and scourges until He went to His death, like a Lamb to the slaughter.
“Patience may be bitter, but its fruit is sweet.” — Rousseau
Has to Be Experienced
H. W. Beecher
There is no such thing as preaching patience to people unless the sermon is so long that they have to practice it while they hear. No man can learn patience except by going out into the hurly-burly world and taking life just as it blows. Patience is gained by staying with and riding out life’s hard-blowing trials.
“For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.” Heb. 10:36
Wait, patiently wait,
God is never late;
The budding plans are in thy Father’s holding,
And only wait His Divine unfolding;
Then wait, patiently wait.
If my child asks me for a pretty tuberose, though I plant the bulb immediately, months elapse before he gets to see that flower. Our prayers are not always answered immediately, not because God would tantalize us, but because the things we ask are often so large and require such a development that there will be a space of time between the asking and the getting.
“Trees that are slow to grow bear the best fruit.” ― Moliere
Can You Do Better?
Author Unknown
A man’s car stalled in the heavy traffic as the light turned green. All his efforts to start the engine failed, and a chorus of honking behind him made matters worse. He finally got out of his car, walked back to the first driver, and said, “I’m sorry, but I can’t seem to get my car started. If you’ll go up there and give it a try, I’ll stay here and blow your horn for you.”