Displaying the Patience of God

The perfect and divine patience of God benefits all of humanity in several ways.

1- God's patience spares us of the immediate wrath that our sins deserve.
Though many who do not understand the perfect character of God try to paint God as an abusive, disproportionately angry and cruel God, Scripture paints a very different image of God:

"He, being compassionate, atoned for their iniquity and did not destroy them; he restrained his anger often and did not stir up all his wrath" (Psalm 78:38).

Genesis 6, Exodus through Deuteronomy, Jonah, Luke 15...all of these historical accounts point to a God who is divinely patient towards the abhorrent wickedness of humanity. In many of these accounts, God spared people and nations of rightful punishment for decades or even over 100 years.

2- God's patience is meant to lead sinners into repentance.

2 Peter 3:9 is one of many passages that teach us the why of God's patience: He wishes that none should perish but that all might come to repentance and experience new life in Himself through Christ. And while some might see this as indifference towards wickedness or even neglect of justice, this passage also clarifies that, "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance".

His patient endurance of our sin is meant to lead all sinners towards repentance. He is not a passive God. There are consequences of our sins even long before the final judgement of God. For example, those who choose to indulge in sexual sins outside of the guidance of the Lord often experience STDs, affairs, or unplanned pregnancies that lead to abortion. Those who choose to indulge in sinful substance addiction like alcoholism often suffer with liver disease or even tragic accidents. The list goes on. But also, God pursues us in our sin through His Word and His church. He is not passively patience. He is actively patient. And His patience is meant to walk us into repentance in order to restore a right relationship with Himself.

So why, then, is it important for the church to display Godly patience to the world?

As was just mentioned above, God often utilizes the church to actively pursue the lost through preaching, service, protection, and stewardship. The church bears the image of Christ who bears the image of God in very tangible ways. And this use of His church is a display of His patience towards those who are living apart from Him in spiritual death.

For many in the world, an interaction with a patient, loving , forgiving, compassionate, pure-hearted, and just Christian is the first experience of what a patient, loving, forgiving, compassionate, pure-hearted, and just God looks like. Long before a sinner picks up a Bible to read of God's Word and Will for mankind, the divine Holy Spirit filled patience of the church can help lead sinners toward the Savior.

Just as God's patience looks like endurance meant to lead others towards repentance and a reconciled relationship with Himself, so should the patience of a Christian. This level of patience is not possible outside of the Holy Spirit of God who dwells inside of all those who have placed their faith in God's work through Jesus.

And as discussed in previous devotionals this year, such Holy Spirit filled patience is an over flow of Holy Spirit filled love, joy, and peace found only in an abiding relationship with the LORD.