Patience

2 Peter 3:9  (ESV)

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.

  

She was a picture of patience as little Johnny pushed her buttons.

“Mommy, I want to ride in the cart.”

“Mommy, can I get that bike?”

“Mommy, why can’t I get that bike?”

“Mommy, I want out of the cart.”

“Mommy, can we go home?”

“Mommy, why can’t we go home now?”

“Mommy, I want to ride in the cart.”

“Mommy, I want some candy.”

“Mommy, why can’t I have some candy?”

Through it all, she didn’t get angry. She didn’t speak harshly. She gently responded to each request. She tenderly answered each question. She was the perfect picture of patience.

Now, maybe you’re a mother or Father and as you read this you say to yourself, “I wish I were like that. I need more patience!” Who doesn’t say that from time to time? “I need to be more patient.”

But how do we learn patience?

We learn it from the one who truly is the perfect picture of patience. We learn from the Lord who “is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

We learn true patience when we understand how patient God is with us.

If you made a big mistake at work, your boss might fire you. If you made that same big mistake at work day after day, your boss would definitely fire you. Think of God as your boss. In life we make the same mistakes day after day. God should fire us!

But he doesn’t. He is patient with us. Day after day he sees our mistakes. Day after day he sees our sins. And day after day he forgives us. He doesn’t hold them against us.

How can he be so patient? He doesn’t want to fire us; he wants to spend eternity with us! So he sent his Son, Jesus, to take our sins away from us. So he is patient with us today. He will be patient with us tomorrow. He will be patient with us always.

Dear Lord, we praise you for the great patience You have for us, a sinner. Inspire us with Your forgiveness through Jesus to be patient with others. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.