Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

I wanted to give some thoughts regarding one of the characteristics of the fruit of the Spirit: patience.

Sanctification

Part of being a Christian is going through the process of learning how to be a Christian. “Sanctification,” is the Biblical term for that renewal process. It takes time to develop into a Christ-like, human being. Since it takes time to establish who it is that we are to become like (Christ), we need to then be patient with each other. Think about it. We are all experiencing these two opposite realities…

2 Corinthians 4:16b (ESV)
Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.

Even though we are renewing in one sense, at the same time we are also wasting in another. This can and will complicate our process of learning how to be like our Savior.

Love

So then, how exactly are we to deal with this?

Paul gives the answer…

Ephesians 4:1-3 (ESV)
I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

May we be eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit by bearing with one another in love, with all humility and gentleness, thereby cultivating the bond of peace with patience. After all, the first word used in the “love chapter” to describe what love actually is, hints at the importance of the subject in view…

1 Corinthians 13:4a (ESV)
Love is patient…

Coincidence?

You decide…

Godspeed, to the brethren!

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