Patience
Be patient with everyone. – 1 Thessalonians 5:14
Man, I wish that guy would quit riding my bumper. I’ll just tap my brake.
That should show I do not appreciate the jerk’s action.
How rude – I just got passed on a hill in a no passing zone.
Why is it when I am in a hurry, a train has the road blocked!
No matter what line I get into at the store, it’s the slowest! Grrr!
Waiting for my 1:30 doctor appointment and it’s already 2:15!
I am just overwhelmed with stuff to do.
The next time someone asks me to be a volunteer, they will get an emphatic “NO!”
Need to add some of your own experiences that test your patience? No doubt you have had your share – maybe even today.
Patience: the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble or suffering without getting angry or upset.
Isn’t it interesting how God rewards our patience if we commit our lives to Him and submit to His direction for how He wants us to turn out?
Example: Remember Joseph in the Old Testament? He rose from prison to a palace – a trust that endured for a long period of challenges. Joseph was a man who may not have understood all that was happening to him. His trust in God through each experience – good, bad and ugly resulted in being rewarded for his constant perseverance in his FAITH. He was one of the few characters in the Bible who there is never a negative word spoken about him. He was righteous in all his ways as recorded in the Bible.
Joseph patiently worked faithfully in every situation he found himself. He waited for God to fulfill His promise that Joseph would be a leader of his people. He had to be patient as he believed God, but probably wondered why, at one point, he was sitting in a prison cell.
God did lift Joseph up to great power and responsibility. Not only was he a leader of his people, but he ruled over the people of Egypt as well. Patience was needed to allow God to accomplish His purpose in the life of Joseph and his family.
Note: In Genesis 39, the scripture says, “And the Lord was with Joseph” and again, “The Lord was with him.” Wouldn’t you like to have the Lord with you?
Action Plan: How will you Love Your Neighbor by showing patience in a particular situation today?
Today, I will show patience by: _____________________________________________________
– Terry Miller has over 30 years of banking and training experience with major banking institutions.12+ years as owner/principal of Terry Miller & Associates – a training and development firm. He spent 8 years as director of Pastoral Care with Waxahachie Bible Church. Terry is currently semi-retired. Continuing with self-employment directing Terry Miller & Associates, a consulting firm conducting speaking and training engagements, in addition to authoring and publishing 4 books.
