ICS Daily Devotions
Enduring In Love
1 Cor 13:4-7 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does
not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices
in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
The wonderful thing is that if love towards God is our life attitude, we can never have a problem with patience. We will be enjoying every day with the Lord like if it was the last one. And all impatient waiting and everyday problems fade away. Think about Noah and his building of the arch. It must have been a slow process while the unbelievers were laughing at him. But he did not get discouraged and kept on building, plank for plank. He did it patiently with full confidence in God until the ark was finished and the flood came. All of a sudden, many were surprised and died, but Noah and his family lived. It is a good parallel with how God’s kingdom operates and how we need to be alert in the Spirit all the time.
If we let God’s peace rule in our lives, it produces patience because the focus is on the walk with God even if the practical circumstances look strange. If we received the word from the Lord, we should stand firmly on the word of God until all is accomplished. The nation of Israel had to be patient for 70 years before they were allowed to return from the Babylonian captivity. There was no other way. Many false prophets arose in Israel and prophesied about soon deliverance expressing an impatient spirit: we want the solution now! God, do something, now! Only the prophet Jeremiah understood God’s plan and prophesied accordingly as it is recorded in the inspired Scriptures.
We may not always understand but we need to trust. Trust is more than understanding. Those 70 years strengthened the nation on inside. During their captivity they were cured of many things. They were purified and recommitted themselves. They never returned to idolatry again despite the temptations from the surrounding nations. The Jews produced numerous literature while being separated from the Jerusalem and the Temple, maintaining the godly spirit of the nation. They started synagogues as centers of religious life and education for new generations that enabled them to survive as the Jews anywhere in the world. As it says in the book of Romans:
Rom 5:3-4: We also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.
We can cultivate our patience and wait for God’s timing. We can practice gratitude to God for everything He has done for us realizing His never-ending patience with us. It should motivate us to live close to Him. We can also turn the delays into an advantage. If you experience a delay and it is not your fault, do not get bitter but instead, take the Bible and read a chapter or two, nourishing the spirit man once you cannot do anything else anyway. Your character and love will grow.
When the Apostle Paul speaks about love, the first and last quality he mentions has to do with patience. It is symbolic that patience is an Alpha and Omega of the Christian love agape. In the world of imperfect people and demonic forces, patience will always stand out as one of the prime qualities to make a spiritual difference and enable us to be the light and salt of the earth.
Series: The Power of Patience
