We've talked about love (the primary characteristic that drives all others), and joy and peace (they seem to go hand-in-hand, don't they?).
Today, patience and kindness...which also seem to couple together nicely! I can't speak for you, but patience may be one slice of the Spirit's fruit that I need to ask God to develop more completely in me. When others aren't moving on my timetable, I can grow impatient quickly. And this is seriously ironic, because many times I am the one that someone else is waiting on and I expect complete patience from them. Ouch! I think as I was typing that the Holy Spirit was directing my fingers because the realization of just how annoying I must be at times glared right back at me from the computer screen! Isn't it funny how the things that annoy us most are sometimes the things that we are the most guilty of? Well, maybe not so funny.
The Greek word used for patience in our text is "makrothumia", and carries with it a wide array of definition: patience, endurance, constancy, steadfastness, perseverance, forbearance, long suffering, slowness in avenging wrongs.
While my scenario still fits within the definition, there is much more that we are to be as Spirit-filled Christians when we are "patient." This same word is used in Romans 2:4 in describing God's patience toward us, allowing us time to come to Him in repentance. We need to reflect God's Spirit in being patient with those who have not yet been empowered through His Spirit to godliness, praying for them to see His way for their lives and submit to His will. But with God's patience also comes a warning...
Seems a natural lead in to kindness, doesn't it? God calls us to be kind. What is your first image of "kindness?" To me, it is of a grandma, sweet and soft, baking cookies for her grandchildren, dispensing them with a huge hug...now that's kindness! But my image, or yours, may not be the correct image for our Scripture.
Here the Greek word used is "chrestotes", which means moral goodness, integrity, benignity, kindness. It is the same word used in our reference text above (Romans 2:4) which tells us why it is that God grants such patience to us...it is because of His kindness.
The word is used again in Paul's second letter to the Corinthians...I think this passage speaks so well to the heart we are to have to those we are ministering to..
As God's fellow workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain. For he says, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation.
We put no stumbling block in any one's path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything. We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you. 2 Corinthians 6:1-11
Notice the coupling again of patience and kindness. Yes, we are to be kind in the way that I pictured a grandmother's loving kindness, but we must realize that the ultimate kindness to anyone is to share with them the message of Christ. For if we retain the message and do not share it with a lost and dying world, then how can we claim any degree of kindness within us? And if that "lost and dying world" is within our very near vicinity...what excuse do we have. This kindness carries with it every definition that we previously listed, for we will have to have moral goodness to be a credible witness to our faith, we will have to live lives of integrity so that people know that we are not saying one thing and doing another, we will extend benignity (OK, I had to look that one up), kind and gracious acts...just like James tells us, we will have to put actions behind our words...we will be kind! Through and through.
Patience and Kindness...words with deeper meanings than maybe we have previously applied. Deeper...that's where God's Word will always lead.
Today, patience and kindness...which also seem to couple together nicely! I can't speak for you, but patience may be one slice of the Spirit's fruit that I need to ask God to develop more completely in me. When others aren't moving on my timetable, I can grow impatient quickly. And this is seriously ironic, because many times I am the one that someone else is waiting on and I expect complete patience from them. Ouch! I think as I was typing that the Holy Spirit was directing my fingers because the realization of just how annoying I must be at times glared right back at me from the computer screen! Isn't it funny how the things that annoy us most are sometimes the things that we are the most guilty of? Well, maybe not so funny.
The Greek word used for patience in our text is "makrothumia", and carries with it a wide array of definition: patience, endurance, constancy, steadfastness, perseverance, forbearance, long suffering, slowness in avenging wrongs.
While my scenario still fits within the definition, there is much more that we are to be as Spirit-filled Christians when we are "patient." This same word is used in Romans 2:4 in describing God's patience toward us, allowing us time to come to Him in repentance. We need to reflect God's Spirit in being patient with those who have not yet been empowered through His Spirit to godliness, praying for them to see His way for their lives and submit to His will. But with God's patience also comes a warning...
Romans 2:4-7, "Or do you despise the riches of His kindness, restraint, and patience, not recognizing that God's kindness is intended to lead you to repentance? But because of your hardness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath, when God's righteous judgment is revealed. He will repay each one according to his works :eternal life to those who by patiently doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but wrath and indignation to those who are self-seeking and disobey the truth, but are obeying unrighteousness.We are told that God is patient, and when we reflect His Spirit, we, too, will be patient. Unlike God, we do not have the power or the ability to bring judgment on anyone. He will repay, that is not our assigned task. We are to be patient, and kind....
Seems a natural lead in to kindness, doesn't it? God calls us to be kind. What is your first image of "kindness?" To me, it is of a grandma, sweet and soft, baking cookies for her grandchildren, dispensing them with a huge hug...now that's kindness! But my image, or yours, may not be the correct image for our Scripture.
Here the Greek word used is "chrestotes", which means moral goodness, integrity, benignity, kindness. It is the same word used in our reference text above (Romans 2:4) which tells us why it is that God grants such patience to us...it is because of His kindness.
The word is used again in Paul's second letter to the Corinthians...I think this passage speaks so well to the heart we are to have to those we are ministering to..
As God's fellow workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain. For he says, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation.
We put no stumbling block in any one's path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything. We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you. 2 Corinthians 6:1-11
Notice the coupling again of patience and kindness. Yes, we are to be kind in the way that I pictured a grandmother's loving kindness, but we must realize that the ultimate kindness to anyone is to share with them the message of Christ. For if we retain the message and do not share it with a lost and dying world, then how can we claim any degree of kindness within us? And if that "lost and dying world" is within our very near vicinity...what excuse do we have. This kindness carries with it every definition that we previously listed, for we will have to have moral goodness to be a credible witness to our faith, we will have to live lives of integrity so that people know that we are not saying one thing and doing another, we will extend benignity (OK, I had to look that one up), kind and gracious acts...just like James tells us, we will have to put actions behind our words...we will be kind! Through and through.
Patience and Kindness...words with deeper meanings than maybe we have previously applied. Deeper...that's where God's Word will always lead.
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