Longsuffering

He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth – Isaiah 53:7.

             Christ bore great pain and sufferings on the cross with patience. Though He was beaten, mocked and scourged, He did not open His mouth. He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; And as a lamb before its shearer is silent, So He opened not His mouth - Acts 8:32. He exhibited perfect patience during His suffering. knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.  But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing - James 1:3,4.

                God’s patience waited in the days of Noah (1 Peter 3:20). God is patient towards us as He wants us not to perish. Count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him - 2 Peter 3:15. It is the will of God that all should be saved. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance - 2 Peter 3:9.

            Longsuffering is indeed a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22). Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain - James 5:7. When we love others as Christ loved us, we can endure others as He endured. Christ has suffered for us leaving us an example to follow His steps. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer – Romans 12:12.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Help us to follow Your steps by being patient with others. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.