The Fruit of Patience

Midweek Study with Pastor Edith
August 22, 2024
Colossians 1:9-14

Of all the fruit of the Spirit that the Apostle Paul lists in Galatians 5:22-23, there are two that are particularly difficult for me; Patience and Self-Control. Come to think of it, without patience I can’t have self-control, because to be disciplined in monitoring my thoughts and behavior takes a great deal of patience. What do you think?

When we read the New Testament, we are reading words, that for the most part, are translated from the original Greek and our word for today comes from the Greek word; Makrothumia which means to have forbearance, fortitude and long-suffering. When do you suppose your patience is challenged the most? Is it at work, in your family, your friendships, your church? If you said “yes” to any or all of these, then you see where I am going with this. Patience is often most challenged within the context of our relationships. Isn’t is awesome that God’s greatest desire is that we be in a close relationship with Him first and then with others! That’s the key to loving God and loving others as Jesus explained when He was asked what was the greatest commandment (Matthew 22:37-40).

In our Scripture text for today, Paul is explaining how he prays for the people to have “great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light…” (Col 1:11b-12).

I found a great quote from Philips Brooks in the little devotional; Nine Fruits of the Spirit by Robert Strand; “Do not pray for easy lives; pray to be stronger. Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers; pray for powers equal to your tasks. Then the doing of your work shall be no miracle but you shall be a miracle. Every day you shall wonder at yourself, at the richness of life which has come to you by the grace of God” (pg.14). I will close with another encouraging word from the Apostle Paul throughout all of his letters to the churches; “Grace and Peace to you from God our father, and the Lord Jesus Christ”!