June 16: The Countdown (part 5)

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. James 1:2-4

Christians frequently joke about asking God for patience and adding, “and give it to me RIGHT NOW!” But the need for patience is no joking matter. It is an integral, essential attribute of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). That fruit consists of multiple attributes that are bound up together to characterize God’s people and distinguish them from the world. It may be possible to feign some of them for a brief time, but feigning any of them, especially patience, is not possible over the long haul. Oh, how we need genuine patience!

The attributes within the fruit of the Spirit are not meant to be divided from one another. Self-deception is a by-product of someone who tells themselves, “Well, I have some of those attributes most of the time. It’s ok if I don’t have them all.” This attitude brings a weakening of faith leading to stagnation and its eventual death.

But the divine restraint and patience of Yahweh is a strength beyond our comprehension. When my patience is tested, it is very easy to see if it is lacking. Gaining awareness in this area will draw me into a closer dependence upon the Holy Spirit of God: exactly what is needed if my character is to be refined and molded into His image.

A lack of patience does terrible damage to relationships. Our role to share the Gospel with the world must be guarded and protected, for if relationships are damaged or lost, the message that we bear is obscured by the messenger. In the end, patient endurance during trying times is a visible, tangible evidence of genuine, saving faith.

Believers at the end of time are described as having patience. Our opening passage indicates that it is within your reach to allow patience [to] have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. This is what it means to be yoked with Jesus and to walk with Him. We are clearly informed that truly walking with Jesus becomes an irritation to the world under the devil’s sway. A time is coming when his death decree will enter mainstream religion with political support (John 16:2, Revelation 13:15).

And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. Revelation 12:17

He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity; he who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints. 13:10

Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. 14:12