Patience Archives - The Gospel Outpost

The Fruit of Kindness: On Confrontation and Niceness

The Fruit of the Kindness: On Confrontation and Niceness

July 23, 2018

We live in a culture that continually is ruled and directed by our feelings. Truth is viewed through the litmus test of how it makes a person feel, rather than on its veracity of being truth. All of this is guised under the supposed idea of “tolerance.” Out of this new cultural norm, there are large portions of Christians who feel as if they should never confront a person for their sin or talk about any difficult issue. After all, this wouldn’t be nice to the person to confront their sin. Yet, Jesus never called his followers to be nice. Instead, He called them to understand what the risks and consequences of our actions were and to be kind. By His very presence, we must conclude that we are all sinful in need of a Savior. We are all wretched sinners in need of God to rescue us from the depths of our sin. When we refuse to confront the sins in the body of Christ for the sake of niceness, we neglect the basic commands of God and the Fruit of Kindness is nowhere to be found.

The Fruit of Kindness: Outward from Above

The Fruit of the Kindness: Outward from Above

July 16, 2018

Kindness carried with it the idea of outward or moral rightness alongside being useful towards another person. Kindness is a quality that must be expressed outwardly. While some fruits are conditions of the heart, kindness involves a relationship with other person. It is only measured when it is apply. A person cannot be kind without any interaction towards anyone or anything. At it’s core, it reinforces the idea that Christians are to be a light to the world, creating a lasting impact on those we come into contact with. Kindness expresses an outward usefulness towards those it comes into contact with but is fueled by the ultimate example of kindness; Jesus Christ on the cross dying for the sins of mankind.

The Fruit of the Patience: Speaking The Name of The Lord

July 9, 2018

For a moment, stop and consider the patience of God. Having created mankind in His image and given them the purpose of being an emissary of God’s will on earth, the people quickly turned to rebellion. They had one rule and were unable to be obedient in that. Thus, mankind fell to sin and cracked the fabric of creation and reality in the process. Yet, despite this, God knew hearts of the people could be returned to Him. Thus, over thousands of years, God lead the people to the cross where Jesus would die for their sins. Even now, we rebelled against God and, in His great patience, God pursued us even though we ran from it. God extended his grace and mercy to mankind who wanted nothing to do with Him but was doomed to die from their sins without intervention. God is patient and extends that patience to us as well. As a fruit of the Spirit, a Christian carries himself in patience in the context of the world. Through our patience for the things of God and for the people of God, we proclaim the name of God, putting our faith on full display. We remain patient for the promises and patience for the people.

The Fruit of Patience: Long Suffering

July 2, 2018

While “patience” is a valid translation of the greek word “μακροθυμία” other translations, in an effort to keep to the other aspects of the meaning translate the word as “long suffering” which, very clearly, means suffering for a long time. This understanding of the word brings out an understanding of the word patience that encompasses the most dreaded part, time. A person does not need patience in order to endure a quick event, rather to have patience a person must endure it over time awaiting the goal in mind. Neither does one need to have patience during pleasant experiences. Patience is not enduring the outpouring of riches, but rather looks ahead to the outpouring of blessings that will one day come. Patience, then, is rooted in the hope of a future and eternal glory that cannot be stripped away. For the Spirit filled Christian, this patience expressing itself by standing strong and enduring through whatever the world has to offer and to set our eyes on the eternal glory that is before us. Patience is not about standing in an effort to achieve greatness but rather and understanding that Jesus already has on our behalf.

The Fruit of Patience: From God Through Us

The Fruit of the Patience: From God Through Us

June 25, 2018

Our time and God’s time stand in opposition to each other. While we may think that instant spiritual satisfaction is best for us, God sets patience inside of us for His perfect timing. Even the very notion of time is different for a God who stands outside of it. There is no boundary that God cannot traverse and even the constraints of time do not apply to God. As a display of His grace and mercy, God is patient with the world, giving all the opportunity to approach the one true King. God is patient and for the Spirit filled Christian, that patience works in us as well.