Devotions this week based on the Message: “BELIEVE: Week 26: PATIENCE”
(NOTE: This sermon series and devotional series is based on a book by Randy Frazee entitled, “BELIEVE.”
You may choose to download or purchase the book as a supplement to your worship and devotional emails.)
Why is God so patient?
Perspective.
We “lose patience” because in the immediate moment, whatever the interruption into our plan causes frustration and even anger.
Traffic “causes” us to be late.
An illness lays us out for a week, year, or more.
Death of a loved one changes our plans.
An injury cuts short a lifelong dream.
And we ask “Why, Lord?”
Remember, patience is “the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset.” But sometimes we are really stretched. Because we don’t want to be long-suffering, we don’t want the suffering to last long.
And so we struggle.
Buy why can God be patient?
God is patient because he holds the long perspective.
Remember the verse from yesterday: 2 Peter 3:8-9 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
Comments from the Theological Dictionary of the New Testament on the Greek word meaning “patience”: God’s patience does not overlook anything. It simply sees further than man. It has the end in view. It has the true insight which knows best. It is not swayed by human emotions.
God’s goal is for us to spend an eternity with him in heaven.
So everything that happens in life is intended to draw us closer to him, strengthen our faith, and ensure we end up in heaven.
But we have to see things from God’s perspective…at least as best we can.
Here’s some promises that help:
Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Isaiah 55: 8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. 9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
1 Peter 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
With the promises in mind and God’s perspective in heart, draw on HIS patience to be patient, long-suffering, in all circumstances.
Apply: What challenges you to keep the long-perspective, God’s perspective, when you are being challenged to be patient?
Prayer: Lord, thank you for always holding the eternal perspective on my life. Help me to trust your plan and perspective are always best as I navigate situations that challenge my patience. AMEN.