A man’s car stalled in heavy traffic as the light turned green. All his efforts to start the engine failed, and a chorus of honking behind him made matters worse. He finally got out of his car and walked back to the first driver and said, “I’m sorry, but I can’t seem to get my car started. If you’ll go up there and give it a try, I’ll stay here and blow your horn for you.”
– Jeffery Anselmi
The Nature of Jesus – Patience
The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
Exodus 3:5
Sometimes our patience can be tested when we are moving slowly in traffic and the car in front of us has come to a halt.
The Lord was grieved with His people because of their wickedness and wanted to destroy them by bringing a great flood. However the Lord waited almost one hundred years for the completion of the Ark. Through the period Noah was building the ark, the people were given an opportunity to turn away from their wicked ways but they did not.
The patience of God continues in the same manner where He is still waiting for us to turn from our wicked ways. The Bible says it this way: ‘And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come’ (Matthew 24:14).
The Lord was also patient with Jonah and rescued him from the belly of the fish because He cared for those who were perishing in Nineveh. As in the story of Jonah, He cares for you and is patiently waiting for you to turn towards Him.
Would we then exercise patience towards our fellow men not only when we drive but at all times. When we lose our patience it is often because of our own selfish desires. Therefore let us seek Him today for His nature, and be patient at all situations and when bearing intense tribulation.
Dear Lord,
Thy word says that if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Please help me to live by this word and endure to live by Your nature. Amen.
God bless you,
Theo & Manju