Monday, April 13

Galatians 5:22-26

The Fruit of the Spirit

By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things.  And those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, competing against one another, envying one another.

Yesterday, Pastor Paul began a new sermon series called, “Ripening Fruit.” He had asked people in the congregation to vote upon which parts of the Fruit of the Spirit that they would most like to hear a sermon. “Patience” was the top vote-getter.

The English word, “patience” comes from the Greek word, “makrothymia.” It means having a long-tempered view of something. When we hear short-tempered, we might think of someone who has a quick emotional fuse. They might immediately respond strongly and with anger to something that happens.

On Sunday Pastor Paul talked about how through patience each of us is able to regulate our emotions. We experience them and don’t let them control our behavior.

Patience is part of the Fruit of the Spirit. These are examples of Christian character. Patience comes from the Holy Spirit. We partner with the Holy Spirit to respond to life with patience.

Patience is not an emotion but instead is a behavior that we cultivate over time. We want this part of the Fruit of the Spirit to ripen inside of us.

Who do you know that exhibits patience? What do they do to exhibit patience? Please share.

Tuesday, April 14

Luke 3:7-9

John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Therefore, bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”

John the Baptist was a fiery preacher who prepared people to the entrance of Jesus into the world. He was baptizing many people in the Jordan—people were touched by his message and actions and wanted to come.

When he saw the religious leaders of his day approach the river, he admonished them to “bear fruits worthy of repentance.”

Repentance is more than a one-time act where we confess our sins and receive Jesus as our Lord. Repentance is a daily act where we turn daily to God and ask to go deeper. When we pray in the morning, we might pray that we can repent—that is we can turn to God and go deeper in relationship with God.

One part of this fruit of bearing repentance is patience. We can let go of our emotions as we stay engaged in our goals. Patience does not mean we have to suffer—though it can involve suffering. What it does mean is we continue to be engaged with God in our life. By not letting our emotions control us or overwhelm our behavior, we are being patient. And as John exhorted people, we are bearing fruit that is worthy of repentance.

Could you see yourself praying every day that you can repent? Please share.

Wednesday, April 15

Luke 8:11-15

The Parable of the Sower Explained

 “Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.  The ones on the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. The ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe only for a while and in a time of testing fall away.  As for what fell among the thorns, these are the ones who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. But as for that in the good soil, these are the ones who, when they hear the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart and bear fruit with endurance.

Jesus gave a terrific glimpse of the power of patience when he was explaining the Parable of the Sower. You can read the Parable of the Sower in the first part of this chapter in Luke.

You might remember that in the story a person threw seeds into different kinds of soil. The best soil produced a hundredfold.

The last verse of today’s reading is worth reading many times.

“But as for that in the good soil, these are the ones who, when they heard the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patient endurance.”

Pastor Paul talked about this kind of patience in his sermon on Sunday. To be patient is to hold fast to a long-time goal. These people don’t let the inevitable obstacles and setbacks hold them back from where they are going. Ultimately, they will bear fruit with patient endurance.

Patience doesn’t mean that we must suffer—the King James translated the word, patience in many places as long-suffering. What it means is we are committed to something, and we don’t let obstacles get in the way. Patience is commitment.

What are your thoughts about this understanding of patience? Please share.

Thursday, April 16

Matthew 26:36-46

Jesus Prays in Gethsemane

Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee and began to be grieved and agitated. Then he said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and stay awake with me.” And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me, yet not what I want but what you want.” Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “So, could you not stay awake with me one hour? Stay awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Again he went away for the second time and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” Again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. So leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words. Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Now the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up, let us be going. Look, my betrayer is at hand.”

Jesus was very patient. He was committed to following God’s direction to the cross. In this familiar story of Jesus praying in the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus exhibited extraordinary patience.

Jesus was accompanied by his closest followers in the garden. As Jesus was praying, he became very passionate about his prayers. Some believe that Jesus was crying or sharing large drops of blood while he was praying.

Three times he came to see what became of his close disciples who accompanied him to the garden of Gethsemane. All three times, the disciples were asleep.

We would have understood if Jesus had “flown off the handle” when he discovered they were asleep. We would have understood if he had become angry and chastised the disciples who fell asleep. But Jesus didn’t do this. He was patient with them.

Part of patience is staying engaged even when we don’t have support around us.

What are your thoughts about the patience of Jesus in this story? Please share.

Friday, April 17

Proverbs 25:15

With patience a ruler may be persuaded,
    and a soft tongue can break bones.

In Proverbs, we find all sorts of pithy statements that can lead us to follow God. This is wisdom.

The writer of Proverbs shared that a ruler can be persuaded with patience.

If we think about what we are talking about in terms of patience, this makes sense. When we are patient, we stay engaged in something. We’re not overwhelmed or dissuaded by the inevitable obstacles that we face. We keep the long view in front of us.

People notice patience. Being patient does not mean we aren’t actively pursuing our goals. We do actively pursue them, but we don’t let the emotions of experiencing obstacles keep us from moving forward. Others can see this and be persuaded to implement these goals that we have.

Keep the long view as patient people.

What are your thoughts about this passage?

Saturday, April 18

Read Romans 2:1-11

The Righteous Judgment of God

Therefore you are without excuse, whoever you are, when you judge others, for in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, are doing the very same things. We know that God’s judgment on those who do such things is in accordance with truth. Do you imagine, whoever you are, that when you judge those who do such things and yet do them yourself, you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you despise the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience? Do you not realize that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? But by your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. He will repay according to each one’s deeds: to those who by patiently doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life, while for those who are self-seeking and who obey not the truth but injustice, there will be wrath and fury. There will be affliction and distress for everyone who does evil, both the Jew first and the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, both the Jew first and the Greek.  For God shows no partiality.

This reading affirms again the steadfastness of a person who is patient. God notices when we stay committed to our goals—even when we experience obstacles. God notices when we don’t fly off the handle when something doesn’t go as we intended for it to God.

We are called to patiently seek good. This is one of the goals in our life of faith—we always seek the good.

Even when we encounter obstacles or fall down when we are seeking good, God asks us to get back up and try again. We are always seeking the good!

What are your thoughts about this passage as it relates to patience? Please share.