Longsuffering

With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love.

Ephesians 4:2

What is it to be longsuffering?  It is not a word we commonly use.  At the heart of longsuffering is patience.  Patience is a flower which does not naturally grow in anyone’s garden.  Longsuffering appears in the list of ‘the fruit of the Spirit.’  Therefore we understand that it is the result of the planting and nurturing of God.  Because Christ has the Spirit without measure, He demonstrates patience to the most extraordinary degree.  Therefore, if we want to see patience become a practical reality, we must of necessity, look to Christ.  We cannot force ourselves to demonstrate what the Spirit of Christ alone can practically effect in us.  All our personal resolutions will fail.  A clear sight of Christ and the planting and nurturing of His Holy Spirit will accomplish in us what all our attempts at personal reformation will not do.  As we looked to Christ to save us and the Holy Spirit did all that was necessary to bring us to Him, so we look to Christ to work in us the longsuffering by the Holy Spirit that will make us truly like Christ.  This is a virtue we greatly desire and rather than find ourselves frustrated with our inability to achieve it of ourselves, let us look to Christ to work it in us by His Spirit.

Our Good and Wise God,
we rejoice that You will work in us
all that conforms us to the Image of Christ.
We praise You that as we look to Christ,
the Holy Spirit will work in us that longsuffering
which is such a hallmark of His Character.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning