Patience, a Christian virtue

But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one. And we are confident in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we commanded you. May the Lord lead your hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God and the patient endurance that comes from Christ. 2 Thessalonians 3:3-5

Patience is a virtue that needs to be developed in the life of believers. This is a virtue that seemed to be impossible to have. Yet, the apostle Paul from the text is urging Christians in Thessalonica that they grow in the “expression of the love of God and the patient endurance that comes from Christ.” From this passage, one can glean that Christ is the One that sets an example of what patience looks like. Through His enduring love, man can have the opportunity to know Him as Lord and Savior. Since the promise of His coming is imminent, He demonstrates His patience to give others the opportunity to come to Him. “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up” (2 Peter 3:9-10). Those who placed their trust in God whose life were written about in the Scripture demonstrated patience. One of those was Job. He was patient in finding answers from God even if at times the answers were difficult to understand. It was the assurance of God’s love that led Job to wait on His will for his life. Once you are overcome with pride, it will be impossible for the virtue of patience to grow. “The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride” (Ecclesiastes 7:8). Christ is your model for the patience you are to show in your life. When you daily submit your life to God and you seek to follow Him, you will discover how you can grow having patience. After all, God through the Holy Spirit wants to produce the fruit of patience in you. “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness” (Galatians 5:22).

Blessings,