We have been discussing the first three Fruits of the Spirit as they are an Inward State; Love, Joy and Peace. The next three are expressions toward others; Longsuffering, Gentleness and Goodness. Longsuffering, or patience has long been regarded as a virtue. It is one that can really try many of us, especially in our fast paced instant society.
Americans do not want to wait for anyone or anything, myself included! We may start our day with instant coffee and instant oatmeal made in a microwave, if we are economy minded; or we may spent $5.00 at a drive through and slam a breakfast muffin sandwich on the way to work. In an effort to expand menus to stimulate new sales, “Fast Food,” is not as fast as it use to be.
Time seems to be our enemy. From the day of our birth, the clock starts ticking on our threescore and ten years, 70, as allotted by the word of God and if by strength, we may pull off ten more to 80.
Psalms 90:10 “The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.”
It use to be that couples stayed married 50 years and looked forward to gracefully aging together into their golden years. Not any more! Everyone is out for No. 1. Only about 25% of people marry today and most of those marriages end in divorce. People no longer age gracefully; they fight it every inch of the way. Looking younger is an obsession of our society. Evening cable news anchors all look the same. They color their hair and wear the perfect amount of makeup to all look the same as if they spend most of their life maintaining a California tan. Health clubs and spas consume the time that was once spent around the family dinner table. In our family, growing up in the 1960s, we sat down as a family for breakfast and dinner, every day! Weekends included lunch together and family activities well into our teens.
Youth always seem to be in a hurry to get old. Once there we all repent of how we spent our time. Being a PK (Preachers Kid), we were always visiting the elderly, the fatherless and the infirmed. To a teenager, this was like getting a root canal! Life needed more excitement; but those hours spent in “pure religion;” gave me strength later in life.
James 1:27 KJV “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.”
It was greatly appreciated when people visited me in the hospital and brought me meals during my times of infirmity. The impetuousness of my youth was cured very quietly when at age 33; an injury catapulted my life into using the medical profession. That injury, unearthed a multitude of underlying chronic ailments that have brought about premature aging. This first decade of the new millennium has been spent mostly in waiting rooms for medical procedures. It has robbed my youth and my wallet; but through it all, God’s character has been transforming my carnal human nature. Truly, the pain and suffering can be counted as joy, because it has driven me to my knees and continues to do so; keeping me close to God.
James 1:2-4 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; (3) 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.
Psalm 107 is one of my favorites because it talks about giving thanks and praising God. Four time this phrase is used in this short chapter; “Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!” It also includes a phrase that has been keyed off of for one of our most sung praise choruses; “Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;”
Psalms 107:1-8 “O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. (2) Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy; (3) And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south. (4) They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in. (5) Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them. (6) Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses. (7) And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation. (8) Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!...”
Psalms 107:22 & 27 22)“And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing… 27) They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end. 29) He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.”
The Message captures verses 22 and 27 with an analogy that fits our fast paced world where everyone is running to and fro; out of control and chasing after life, spinning like a top! People seem to live in the storms of their lives; and yearn for some peace and quiet to be calm and still.
Psalms 107:27 (Message) “You were spun like a top, you reeled like a drunk, you didn't know which end was up… 29) He quieted the wind down to a whisper, put a muzzle on all the big waves.”
When we allow God to slow down our lives; to bless us with peace and calm; then we will have time to meditate upon the blessings of the Lord and properly give Him thanks, not just on an annual day of Thanksgiving, but every day; entering into His courts with thanksgiving, praise and worship. We need to truly worship the Lord.
WORSHIP in the New Testament comes from the Greek word προσκυνέω (proskuneo, pronounced pros-koo-neh'-o), meaning to kiss,( like a dog licking his master’s hand); to fawn or crouch to, that is, (literally or figuratively) prostrate oneself in homage (do reverence to, adore): - worship.
Our worship to God needs to be an expression of our undying love to him. Dogs are referred to as man’s best friend. Their kisses are unrestrained licking and slobbering all over their master, and the friends of their master. They are also quick to defend and put themselves in harms way to protect their masters and what belongs to their masters. Are we quick to hug and kiss God with unrestrained affection through our worship? Praise we do outwardly, but worship we do inwardly. True worship will be expressed outwardly with our voices and whole being; especially with tears of joy, appreciation and thanksgiving.
Longsuffering or Patience is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. If we live in patience toward man and the physical things and circumstances of our lives, we will live with more calm and peace. We will have more time to spend in true worship to Jesus Christ, our Lord. This life is all about Jesus Christ and being transformed to be His partner for all eternity. If we can begin to grasp our awesome future and our present calling, then we will live in the fruits of the Spirit and God will live in us.
My Lord and my Father in Heaven, help me slow down my mortal physical life so that I may build an everlasting spiritual life and prepare to be with you for all eternity. Let me walk patiently with all fellow human beings as we are all heirs together of your promises; all children of God. Let your Holy Spirit live in me and produce good works and fruit of your love, joy and peace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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