More Like Him
“So don’t allow your hearts to grow dull or lose your enthusiasm, but follow the example of those who fully received what God has promised because of their strong faith and patient endurance.” Hebrews 6:12
One very apt definition of patience is “waiting without complaining”.
There is a popular cliché that “Patience is a virtue” and Patience is listed by Paul in Galatians 5:22-23 as one of the fruit of the Spirit.
So there is no disputing that a Christian ought to be patient. But as with most of the virtues, it is easy to assume that we know what patience is and therefore don’t bother to give an explicit definition.
Most times, we learn the meaning with examples of how it is expressed.
Jesus was very patient with his disciples. They were sometimes slow to understand his teachings, selfish and slow to believe. To say that was uncomfortable for Jesus would be an understatement, yet we never find him railing at them or making them feel stupid when they make mistakes.
Jesus’ refusal to complain about his disciples’ shortcomings can be described as an exercise of self-control.
Everyone who aspires to much must emulate Jesus, the God Incarnate who has gone through the route of human frustration just to show us an example of genuine patience.
May we be more like Jesus. Amen.