Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation…
Summary: While we wait for the Lord’s return, there is work to be done.
In his book “Man’s Search for Meaning,” Victor Frankl relates a story about an older man whose wife has passed away. The man is in emotional agony because of his loss. He misses his wife deeply and eventually seeks treatment with Dr. Frankl.
The doctor’s cure was a simple question: “What would have happened … if you had died first, and your wife would have had to survive you?” This question caused the man to rethink his situation. If he had died first, he would have left his wife all alone to suffer as he was suffering. He realized that this way, he was saving her from being alone. It was an insight that gave his loneliness meaning, and he went away content.
In our loneliness, we sometimes begrudge the Lord’s slowness in coming. We agonize over the state of the world and our suffering. But bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation!
Who would you deny salvation to speed the Lord’s coming?
No one?
Me neither.
The Lord understands this and shares our concern for others. Peter points out that our Lord’s patience means salvation for others. But how then can the Lord ever come?
This is something that God, in His infinite wisdom and knowledge, will have to decide. There will be a point, like there was for Sodom and Gomorrah, when there are not enough righteous souls left to justify further delay.
Until then, we have our work cut out for us! Loving others is sharing God’s light with the world. We are the beacon on the shore of life, marking the path to salvation.
Application: Love your neighbor as yourself. (Matthew 22: 37-39)
Food for Thought: How can we apply God’s example of patience in our own lives?
How can we apply God’s example of patience in our own lives?
I’ve been thinking about a few different ways but I keep coming back to Gods perspective on everything vs ours. God is Omnipotence, Omniscience, and Omnipresence. I feel like a goldfish in comparison.
Tim,
You get a gold star 🌟 for your goldfish analogy! I feel the same way. 🙂
I have a 3-year old toddler. This is such a magical time, 3 years old, because he is talking and doing things that bring great joy and frustration to me daily. Sometimes I have to be very patient, let him make his mistakes, be there to help him when he needs it, just observe when he needs it too. I also have to remember to focus on the truly important things, the things that he will carry with him in life, and not the details that will fall to the wayside.
This dynamic appears to be the very same I have with God, only I (of course) am the 3-year old, and God’s perspective is of all eternity.
How can we apply God’s example of patience in our own lives? I believe remembering what is important, and understanding what needs our action and what doesn’t (reading the Word and prayer help with that!).
2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”
Thank you, Chris!
I appreciate you sharing your perspective as a parent. That is a powerful reminder of our relationship with our Father in heaven.
Thank you for the devotion. I appreciate the responses as well.
The child should be like the parent. Since God is patient with others (including me), then I should extend that patience to others as I am His child through faith in Christ. Ephesians 4: 1 – 2 refers to how we are to treat each other in the church, but I think the principle can apply to all people.
“ … be patient, bearing with one another in love.”
Great passage, Rich! Yes, I agree about applying this to all people. It probably falls under the rubric of “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” (Luke 6:31)
01-12-2022, 2 Peter 3:15a, How can we apply God’s example of patience in our own lives?
Patience is a gift of the Holy Spirit given to each believer by God. One definition of patience is to endure discomfort without complaint.
Throughout history servants of God have demonstrated godly patience. Abraham, the father of our faith patiently waited a quarter of a century for the son God promised him from his wife Sarah. Abraham’s patience is one of the many reasons God considered Abraham His friend.
Galatians 5:22, Romans 4:16
The Bible tells us to cease striving and know that I am God.
(Striving is defined as: 1. To exert much effort or energy; endeavor. 2. To struggle or fight forcefully; contend: strive against injustice.)
Psalm 46:10
For a believer to lack patience, refuse to be patient with circumstances or other people would be a sign of immaturity, a lack of humility which we all suffer from as we live on this earth. Mature Christians know we live in a world created by God, in predestined circumstances, and rest in His will over ours, in all things. This is we can strive for and please God.
Ron,
Excellent response! I appreciate the definition of patience and how you tie that in to are acceptance of God’s will. Thank you!
I may be wrong but did Abraham have that much patience? I thought that he didn’t have a son until Sarah’s maidservant conceived one…….. …… but Godly patience cold be not doing nothing and just waiting for something. But be busy doing the Lords work. Like the 3 servants, 2 did something while waiting and the third just waited. I believe that God can have a better grasp of patience because He already knows and has done all the work and planning, letting things unfold to us and being patient to allow us the time to turn towards Him smiling as we figured something out that He knew all along.