The dictionary defines “patient” as “able to accept or tolerate delays, problems, or suffering without becoming annoyed or anxious.” Take an inventory of yourself. Are you patient based on these descriptors? If not, you have some work to do in the name of the Lord. Here’s another question for you to seriously consider: Can you continuously take from someone and simultaneously resent him or her?
“A wealthy man had a son whom he loved very much. He constantly showered him with gifts. He spent every moment of the day teaching and caring for his son. But as the boy grew into manhood, he turned away from his father and soon came to despise him - yet his father continued to support him in the hope that he would come around. He paid his bills, furnished him with a mansion and wrote to him daily. Instead of being thankful, the son ripped up the letters, ended all contact and cursed anyone who dared mention his father’s name in conversation. However, the son never stopped taking his father’s financial support. Sadly, the ungrateful son illustrates humanity (Judges 8:34 [“And the people of Israel did not remember the Lord their, God, who had delivered them from the hand of all their enemies on every side”]). God is our Heavenly Father, and many of us imitate the son’s attitude. God spends every moment with us: giving, teaching and caring – yet, many of us have turned away and pretend He doesn’t exist” (Free Christian Illustrations).
No matter how much we may turn away from God and find our way back, He receives us with open arms. However, He will not run behind us. We must humble ourselves, pray, seek Him, and turn from evil. What if each time we mess up and turn our backs on God that He would take away everything that belongs to Him? We would surely be in a fix, as the older folks use to say! The main point in my message is that even though God punishes us for our wrongdoings, He doesn’t get so angry that He will not forgive and receive us again. GOD IS A PATIENT FATHER! When man gets upset with us for our wickedness, usually there is little to none as it relates to patience toward us. God loves us, so does an earthly Christian father who is patient with his children in teaching them spiritually.
Are you going to learn to exercise more patience with your fellow man, or are you going to turn your back on him, taking all he has to offer? Always abound in the faith, and never leave home without Him!
