“For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in his mouth; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously.” (1 Peter 2:21-23)Faith takes patience and patience takes faith. This faith, however, is not in man but in God. Our faith is not that our patience will somehow produce change in those with which we are patient, but rather our faith is that it is God who is working in all our relationships. Our faith is not in the other person, but in God with whom all things are possible.
Jesus did not come to this world because He believed that mankind was willing and able to change and follow Him. He came because He believed in the will of His Father, that His sacrifice for the sins of man would pave the way for all mankind to be reconciled to God. Jesus said, “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.” (John 12:32) Jesus was speaking of His death on the cross. Jesus believed that His death on the cross would result in all men being drawn to God.
The secret of patience is our trust in God. If we trust in man, we will be disappointed. If we trust in the working of God, then our faith will be rewarded and our patience will bare fruit. So how does love express itself in patience? Peter said, “Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.” (1 Peter 4:19) Patience expresses itself in doing what is right. Even when faced with wrong, even when faced with injustices, we are still called to do what is right. We are called to live rightly towards those around us, even if our right living is not reciprocated by them. Patience is the ability to do right even when others do not do rightly towards us. How can we do this? By trusting ourselves to God. We can be patience because we believe in the word of God that, “the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.” (Galatians 6:8) and that, “God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints.” (Hebrews 6:10) Without God, we could never be patient, at least not for long, but with God we can do all things. Thanks be to God!
David Robison
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