“Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to Him” refers to everyone who has been granted eternal life by placing their faith in Jesus Christ. This includes all believers. (Romans 8:9). According to Romans 8:14, “All who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.” Living by the Spirit is what it means to be a Christian, and our everyday actions should reflect this. The “fruit” we bear ought to show whether the Holy Spirit is in our hearts. Living by faith involves more than just accepting specific theological truths; it also entails allowing the Spirit to change you and living in accordance with God’s purpose.
In Galatians 5:22, Paul lists nine characteristics that make up “the fruit of the Spirit”: love, joy, peace, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Let’s examine patience in more detail. What does this mean, how does it illustrate the nature of God, and how does it function in a Christian’s life?
Being impatient
I am a fairly impatient person. I become annoyed when someone takes longer than I anticipated to do something or doesn’t act on what they should right away. In situations like this, I really struggle to maintain my composure and friendliness.
Furthermore, I am aware that I am not the only one having difficulties in this situation. For a lot of people, patience is not a natural trait. We occasionally get frustrated not only with those in our immediate vicinity but also with God. It is possible that we have prayed for something significant to us and become frustrated if God [doesn’t respond to our desires right away]. We may be [looking forward to the Day of the Lord], when God will put an end to all misery and evil. That’s a positive thing, but it can be mistaken for impatience. It’s common to believe that God is “slow to fulfill his promise.”
God is patient
This misconception is dispelled by Peter, who says, “The Lord is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. He is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness” (2 Peter 3:9).
God is portrayed in the Bible as being patient. “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,” is how He describes Himself in Exodus 34:6. To put it another way, God does not always punish sin immediately. He provides people opportunity to turn from their sins and make life changes.
When Paul warns his readers, “Or do you presume on the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance,” he is explaining the same thing. (Romans 2:1–4).
Paul as an example of God’s patience
Paul was a live illustration of God’s forbearance. He is shocked that God spared him when reflecting on his own life. Paul had been opposing Jesus for years and even persecuting Christians, so he would have been perfectly justified in doing so. But Paul received grace, not condemnation. In order for Jesus Christ to serve as an example of perfect patience to those who would believe in Him for eternal life, “I received mercy for this reason,” according to 1 Timothy 1:16.
Waiting patiently for the Lord
A Christian’s life is not always simple. You may encounter resistance, labor, and exhaustion. You need patience to persevere under such conditions. According to Romans 12:12, we are to “rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, and be constant in prayer.” Being patient demonstrates that you have chosen to follow God’s timing rather than your own notions of “how the world should be.” Have faith in Him; His kindness and intelligence surpass yours by a wide margin.
If we keep God’s wonderful destiny in mind, we may be patient amid trying times. “Have patience. James 5:8 says, “Set your hearts, for the hour of the Lord is coming.” We are aware that our time on earth is limited. When He returns, [the Lord] will make everything right.
Abraham as an example of patience
An example of someone who had to wait nearly a lifetime for God’s promises to come true is given in the Old Testament. That was Abraham. As God had promised in Genesis 12:1-3 and Hebrews 6:13–15, he would multiply him and bless him.
However, Abraham never had a single child! The anticipated heir was not born until after he turned 100 years old. The challenges and times of uncertainty and faith that Abraham experienced are described in the book of Genesis. He found it difficult to wait on God’s timing. Still, Hebrews 6:15 states that “Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise.” In addition to Abraham, James 5:10 says that we should look up to “the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord […] as an example of suffering and patience.”
These individuals demonstrate that having the Holy Spirit reside in your heart makes it possible to be patient, even though patience isn’t a natural human quality.
Being patient with others
Both with ourselves and with others, our God is patient. According to 1 Thessalonians 5:14, we too ought to love and “be patient with them all”—that is, fellow Christians. According to Ephesians 4:2, “be fully humble and gentle; be patient bearing with one another in love.”
That is a difficult task because those other folks don’t usually treat us well. Some people are simply like the rest of us—sinful, frail humans. Genuine endurance necessitates humility and faith. Selfishness is disappearing as a result. It’s about valuing other people above ourselves, as Jesus did.
Patience is a fruit of the Holy Spirit
It is not necessary to be patient in order to be saved. It’s also not something we can accomplish on our own. We rely on the Holy Spirit being a part of us. “Strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that we may have great endurance and patience,” is what the Spirit will do for those who follow Him. (Ephesians 1:11).
Do you recognize the fruit of patience in your life?
