Page Four: “A Life That Pleases God” 09/16/2012
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Paul says [3. “… by being] strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience [endurance; holding up under] and longsuffering with joyfulness;…”
Longsuffering, as you know, is a fruit of the Holy Spirit in you. Longsuffering is simply a “long temper.” Longsuffering means you don’t let circumstances or people provoke you. Now, we all know people with short tempers. They are the ones who don’t exhibit longsuffering. They don’t suffer other people or difficult circumstances very well. The long-tempered people, the ones with the quality of longsuffering; these are the ones who please the LORD. And the Bible shows us a whole lot about longsuffering. For example, longsuffering is · is rewarded · comes from being tested · comes from reading the Scriptures · is needed most of the time · is evident in many of God’s people i.e. His prophets · is a virtue that is learned by experience onlyi [Found on www.spirithome.com “What is Patience?” July 12, 2010 by Robert Longman and modified by me]. Folks, this is what honors the LORD. This is what the LORD tells us is pleasing to Him. And there’s one more thing here. He doesn’t want to waste your trials on your grumpiness. How do I know that? Again, what does the Scripture say? [3. “… by being] strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience [endurance] and longsuffering with joyfulness;…” The LORD is ready at any moment you are to supply you with joy when you are experiencing things beyond your control and when you have to face those things which you find disconcerting and trying. |
Sure, you’d like to retaliate and get angry with someone for their decisions, their actions or inactions. But God’s way is the way of longsuffering with joyfulness.
What pleases the LORD is when we, by His power, become a longsuffering Christian who, at the same time, is a joyful? And there’s only one way to do it. Here’s what Paul wrote to the Ephesians. Ephesians 4:1 “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, (2) With all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love; (3) Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Longsuffering comes by love alone. And it’s His love in you that works; especially since our natural love is so often so weak. Think about our Church family for a moment. Are we not a group of people with differing personalities; with differing gifts; with differing abilities and talents? Well, just the fact that we are different means we will approach things differently. And constantly the LORD gives us opportunities to develop the response of longsuffering with joyfulness when it comes to other Believers. And the very same thing holds true in your family. Are you not much different from your spouse, your siblings, your parents, your children, your loved ones? And hasn’t the LORD continually given you the opportunity to develop this quality of longsuffering with them? Folks, it’s one of the keys to fellowship. It’s true that we’re different. Be glad for that. Then, when your brother or sister in Christ says or does something that rubs you the wrong way; apply these Scriptures to your heart. It pleases the LORD when you are joyful in the midst of your longsuffering. Choose the LORD’s way each and every time and He indeed will be honored by your choice. |