How to Be a Fruity Christian (Part 11)

"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience..." The next three characteristic (patience, kindness, goodness) that flow out of God's supernatural love, describe virtues that are truly needed in our relationship with other people.  Someone has said that patience is love's habit.  What is a habit?  A habit is an activity, action, or ritual that is done without deliberate thought.  The habit is strengthened through constant practice, routine, and discipline.  The word patience is not found in the Old Testament, but there are several words in Scripture that imply patience.  The most common word is the word "longsuffering", which literally means to be drawn out slowly.  God is described as a God who suffers long with His people (Ex. 34:6).  Another word is "forbear", meaning to pull back a bow and hold it in place.  Nehemiah 9:30 stated, "Many years God forbear with Israel..." In the New Testament we read the words "endurance" and "longsuffering" to mean patience.  Almost every time these words are used it is describing God's response toward His children and His world.    

In Galatians 5:22, the word patience is better translated "long suffering".  This word implies the strength to hold back, or to expel one's anger slowly, even in the midst of hurt or affliction.  Patience isn't just the ability to wait, it's the ability to keep a good attitude while you wait.  We all claim our need for more patience, and yet I have heard many Christians state that we should not ask for patience, because this opens up our lives to negative activity.  This mentality is faulty for a Christian.  That is like a farmer not praying for rain because he is afraid the weeds will grow faster.  The farmer needs the rain for his crops all the while dealing with the weeds.  If the fruit of the Spirit is patience, and if it is our desire as Christians to be like Christ, then shouldn't we long to see our lives mature in Godly patience during good and bad times?  Patience is a key virtue in the life of Jesus Christ.  Shouldn't we desire to be like Him?  No matter what comes our way in life, if we are walking close to Christ, He will give us the patience to overcome any obstacle, and as a result we will have a less stressed life.    

How to Be a Fruity Christian (Part 10)

As we continue our journey focusing on the fruit of the Spirit, I want to remind you how prominent God's peace should reign in a Christian's relationships.  There are three key relationships that each person is responsible for: Relationship with God, relationship with others, and relationship with yourself.    Before a human being can experience true peace, they must realize that true peace of heart, mind, body, and soul comes only from having a right relationship with God (Roman 5:1).  When God created Adam and Eve, their relationship with God was pure peace.  Yet when they chose to sin against God's perfect law, then human relationship with God became one of fear (Genesis 3:10).  Only when a person chooses Christ to be Lord and Savior of their life, will they be able to join with the Apostle Paul when he writes, "And the peace of God that passes all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Phil. 4:7)

The second relationship that cries out for peace is in our relationships with others.  God's children are called to be "peacemakers" (Matt. 5:9).  We are also called to take the "gospel of peace" to those who need to experience the peace of God.  Proverbs 16:7 say "When a man's ways please the Lord He makes his enemies to be at peace with him."  From God's Word we learn that when we are walking close with Christ, we are bringing God's peace into every human relationship we are in; even the difficult ones.  And last, the third relationship that longs for peace is the relationship each person has with themselves.  This may sound strange, but there are many of people we meet that may seem to have everything together, but deep inside they are at war.  Why do you think so many (Christians too) are killing themselves every day?  Col. 3:15-16 commands us to let God's peace rule our whole being.  True inward peace comes from following God's Word (Ps. 119:165), having a committed prayer life (Phil. 4:67), submitting to the Good Shepherd's leading (Ps. 23), and standing on God's unfailing promises.  True peace does not mean you and I will not have any problems in life, but in our problems and storms, hold dearly to God for refuge and strength.  Allow God's peace to be your guide, and you will have a less stressed life.  Until next time, keep walking close to Christ.