Exhortation

Patience is a fruit of the Spirit. This means that as the Holy Spirit of Christ dwells in you richly, you will grow and evidence more and more patience as the years go by. We are a pampered and spoiled people. We have fast food, cell phones, microwaves, high speed internet, automobiles, e-mail; we have the world at our fingertips, and it is incredibly tempting to believe that we are entitled to this kind of service and speed. But it is all a gift. We become accustomed to our timing, getting what we want when we want it. But God is the ruler of all, and He bestows all things in his time. He has made everything beautiful in its time. And this is the point: if you are chafing against God’s timing then you are despising the beauty that he has designed for you. This does not mean that you do not pray for better things. This does not mean that you are not hungry for the blessing of God. But it does mean that you must be comprehensively and thoroughly thankful. You must be drenched, soaked to the bone, dripping with gratitude for everything. It’s all a gift from God what he has and has not given to you, and when we cling to disappointment or bitterness in anyway we are like small children pouting when our father says that we have to eat our peas before having dessert. This may apply to how you view your job or your family or your parents. It may apply to how you view this church, the worship, or the leadership. It may apply to what you think about your finances, your health, or your future in general. Be patient. Cast all of your cares upon God because He does care for you. Then be patient. And you must be so patient that you are even willing to give it all up if that’s what God requires. God is not a stingy father, he has more good planned for you than you can even begin to imagine. But God loves tension and drama; he understands a good joke, he understands how a climactic ending ought to work. So don’t ruin the play. Don’t spoil the fun. God is working in your life, telling a wonderful story. Just go along with it. Be patient, and God will raise you up.