APRIL 19 – LONGSUFFERING!

“But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing” (James 1:4).

Longsuffering is one of the fruits of the Spirit. Patience is highly essential to the children of God for them to become perfect in the image of Christ. Those who remain patient will not be short in anything, and they will be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

The goldsmith should be with much patience if he is to make the best jewellery. He searches not for the iron or bronze but gold. He refines the gold several times and patiently removes the dirt and other unwanted things from it. Not only that. He minutely carries out some carvings making use of his skill. He toils day and night and completes the task of making the jewellery with all care and concern.

To change you into a precious jewellery, God guides you in the path of suffering and caves of tribulations. If you do not show patience in this process, it will become impossible for you to become His delightful jewel. Patience will beautify you. Jacob writes, “Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord” (James 5:11).

When tested for patience, Job said, “But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold” (Job 23:10). Accordingly, Job remained as pure gold. Job was very patient during the days of captivity. When captivity came to an end, he received double fold blessings. Also, the patience secured him a permanent place in the Scripture. If there is going to be a devotee who could speak the greatness of patience, it is nobody other than Job. Is it not?

Dear children of God, meditate the patience of Jesus Christ. The period of His living in this world is a mere thirty-three and a half years only. Before commencing the ministry, He was patient for thirty years. His ministry happened to be a highly blessed one, and the reason is that He was waiting for the time of the Father patiently. Though it is a ministry of short duration, it remains as the one to give the best results.

To meditate: “Therefore the Lord will wait, that He may be gracious to you;…Blessed are all those who wait for Him” (Isaiah 30:18).