Longsuffering and Patience

 •  2 min. read  •  grade level: 8
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● His:
Another truth that has been impressed upon me of late is the Lord’s patience and longsuffering with His people. In spite of our slowness in learning the lessons He seeks to teach us He does not give up. Often He has to give us the same lesson over and over again. What a patient, longsuffering Master we have. He is indeed “The God of patience” (Romans 15:55Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: (Romans 15:5)).
● Ours:
We need to learn patience as well, and there is only one way to learn it: “Tribulation worketh patience” (Romans 5:33And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; (Romans 5:3)). “Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing” (James 1:3-43Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. (James 1:3‑4)).
We live in a world of impatience. Everybody wants everything instantaneously. But to learn patience in the school of God often takes (at least for some of us), many hard lessons. That is one reason why it is helpful to read of those in Bible times who learned patience, often through hard experience. “Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience” (James 5:1010Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. (James 5:10)).
These lessons in His school enlarge our understanding and lead us into “the patience of the Christ” (2 Thessalonians 3:55And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ. (2 Thessalonians 3:5) JND Translation).
His patience is so infinite,
In dealing with His own,
Forbearance is His character,
Longsuffering we have known.
In spite of our impatient ways,
He patiently imparts,
(Rebuking, guiding, cheering too),
Instruction to our hearts.
To learn His patience gives great calm,
And stays our troubled mind;
For those who learn His patient ways,
In Him sweet blessings find.
To think of Him the patient One,
So kind, and meek, and mild,
Reminds us of those qualities,
That well become His child.