Longsuffering Love

I awoke thinking about the feud going on between politicians, parties and idealogies. Firebreathing, they stir up the angst we feel across the nation and around the world. Open the news, and it’s everywhere. Each one speaks their version of their truth, and it is difficult to find the absolute truth as we cipher through their vitriol.

We feel this problem at work, church, and in the family.

A scripture from a recent reading broke through my morning fog. It’s the last chapter of Paul’s last known letter, and he’s writing to his protege, Timothy.

I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ,
who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom:
Preach the word!
Be ready in season and out of season.
Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
2 Timothy 4:1-2 NKJV (Emphasis mine)

Paul was giving his greatest focus for the next generation in his last hours. He had poured himself into another’s foundation, and was encouraging them. These words are positive. Truthful. Honest. Read between the words and you’ll find it’s done in Love.

Preach the Word! Be Ready! In Season and Out of Season! CONVINCE! Rebuke! Exhort!

Paul’s not done! He sums it up with the mindset of the speaker we are to be.

Do it all with Longsuffering. And with Teaching.

Longsuffering

Longsuffering is a strange word. We think it means to suffer long, and none of us really have the time to suffer. There’s a deeper meaning. Strong’s Concordance breaks this Greek word out and gives a one-word definition: Longanimity.

Longanimity is a word with a long history.
It came to English in the 15th century from the Late Latin adjective longanimis,
meaning “patient” or “long-suffering.” 
Longanimis, in turn, derives from the Latin combination of longus (“long“) and animus (“soul“).
[Source]

From a time and a life we did not live, across the miles and through the years of translation, Paul is teaching nothing new. He’s dealt with this many times. Longsuffering is a Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). It is something we robe ourselves with (Colossians 3:12). This was Paul’s Life! (2 Timothy 3:10)

My summation? Be more like Paul. Robe yourself with patience. Grow new fruit, and let patience be sought for. Be patient. Let the Word and Doctrine of God be your answer, and not your logic, or that of the world. Let the Word of God be your voice.

Practice patience with all. Your neighbors, friends, family, and even your pet dog! I’m just saying. Patience is a fruit that is not just limited to be used with church folks!

How Do We Move Forward?

Jesus says that we are to “…Search the scriptures…” (John 5:39) because it is in the scripture that we find Him, prophesied from days of old, and to his birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension! Every bit of it is the History of God’s dealing with His Creation! If you cannot believe in Jesus, you cannot believe in the Words that testify of Him.

They go hand in glove!

Quit looking to this modern world for your example! This world does not speak into my life! It is a constantly changing political thought, culture, and customs landscape. One day, the politicians are “friends.” They are “duking” it out in public the next day!

Quit looking to your family for examples of how to live your Godly life! Especially if they are not an example of Godly love! Look for a proper witness of how to live!

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. (Hebrews 12:1-3 NKJV)

This writer had just hollowed a portion of our mind to look at great examples of those who lived imperfect but were Godly in the summation of their presentation. (Hebrews 11 – Chapter of Faith)

Who do we look to? There are a myriad of sources and names. But choose your examples cautiously. You can name those who went before you, but are they the best examples? Perhaps our list begins with Jesus! That author of our faith. That finisher of the excellent work he began in us. (Philippians 1:6) It will be him performing that work within us until that last day!

The best person you can follow is two-fold. I think you need a Pastor speaking into your life, but that means you need to be available to hear what the Word and Doctrine are teaching! I think you need, and for lack of a better word, a Mentor. Someone you trust implicitly who knows how to live the life before you and everyone else. Look for that person that will speak truth into your life from the very Word of God.

I am not looking to be the voice of condemnation. I want to be the voice of one speaking the truth of the doctrine of God’s Word patiently.

That’s what this pastor is trying to do. I hope you are listening.