You can’t just think your way to something, you have to act, do, and that takes a man of action and patience because great things don’t come instantly, they come from time and effort spent.”
–G. Michael Hopf (Last Ride)
“But that is why God had mercy on me, so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life.”
“But that is why God had mercy on me, so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life.”
–1 Timothy 1:16 (NLT)
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“I want patience so give it to me now!” Have you ever heard anyone say those words, or imply them in some manner? Patience is a fruit, it must grow. There are different things that help us gain patience: a good heart (Luke 8:15) and trials (James 1:3-4) among them. I came across an article written by an early church father–Cyprian. I enjoy his writings. He lived around 200-258 and was well educated. He became a leader in the church in Carthage and eventually became a bishop there. During the reign of Decius, Cyprian had to hide in a place near the city and led the church from there. He was exiled in 258 and soon beheaded. Ponder the words, take time for this is the last Echo of 2022. Be patient…
Let us stay alert and hold fast to Christ’s patience, but which we can reach God. This patience, abundant and diverse, is not restrained by narrow limits, nor confined by straight boundaries. But the virtue of patience is demonstrated widely. Even though its fertility and liberality come from a single source…patience both recommends us to God and preserves our relationship with Him. It relieves anger, bridles the tongue, governs the mind, guards peace, rules discipline, and breaks the force of lust. It represses the violence of pride, extinguishes the fire of hostility, checks the power of the rich, and soothes the needs of the poor. Patience protects the blessed integrity of virgins and the careful purity of widows, and those united under a single affection in marriage. It makes men humble in prosperity, brave in adversity, and gentle towards wrongs and disrespect. It teaches us to pardon quickly those who wrong us, and, if we do wrong, to beg earnestly for forgiveness. It resists temptations, suffers persecutions, perfects passions and martyrdoms. Patience firmly strengthens the foundations of our faith and elevates our increasing hope. It directs our actions so that we hold fast to the way of Christ while walking by His patience. While we imitate our Father’s patience, we persevere as sons of God.
The new year is coming–have patience, it will soon be upon us. The old year, with all that happened in it is almost over, passed away into history. The new is upon us with all the decisions that have to be made because of circumstances brought to us in the new year. One thing not changing is Jesus Christ–He will be the same Savior and Lord in 2023 as He was in 2022.
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“I want patience so give it to me now!” Have you ever heard anyone say those words, or imply them in some manner? Patience is a fruit, it must grow. There are different things that help us gain patience: a good heart (Luke 8:15) and trials (James 1:3-4) among them. I came across an article written by an early church father–Cyprian. I enjoy his writings. He lived around 200-258 and was well educated. He became a leader in the church in Carthage and eventually became a bishop there. During the reign of Decius, Cyprian had to hide in a place near the city and led the church from there. He was exiled in 258 and soon beheaded. Ponder the words, take time for this is the last Echo of 2022. Be patient…
Let us stay alert and hold fast to Christ’s patience, but which we can reach God. This patience, abundant and diverse, is not restrained by narrow limits, nor confined by straight boundaries. But the virtue of patience is demonstrated widely. Even though its fertility and liberality come from a single source…patience both recommends us to God and preserves our relationship with Him. It relieves anger, bridles the tongue, governs the mind, guards peace, rules discipline, and breaks the force of lust. It represses the violence of pride, extinguishes the fire of hostility, checks the power of the rich, and soothes the needs of the poor. Patience protects the blessed integrity of virgins and the careful purity of widows, and those united under a single affection in marriage. It makes men humble in prosperity, brave in adversity, and gentle towards wrongs and disrespect. It teaches us to pardon quickly those who wrong us, and, if we do wrong, to beg earnestly for forgiveness. It resists temptations, suffers persecutions, perfects passions and martyrdoms. Patience firmly strengthens the foundations of our faith and elevates our increasing hope. It directs our actions so that we hold fast to the way of Christ while walking by His patience. While we imitate our Father’s patience, we persevere as sons of God.
The new year is coming–have patience, it will soon be upon us. The old year, with all that happened in it is almost over, passed away into history. The new is upon us with all the decisions that have to be made because of circumstances brought to us in the new year. One thing not changing is Jesus Christ–He will be the same Savior and Lord in 2023 as He was in 2022.