The Church At Brierfield

“The fruit of the Spirit is … patience.”  (Gal. 5:22)

Patience has two aspects to it.  One has to do with being long suffering toward difficult people and a slowness in avenging wrongs.  The other has to do with endurance and perseverance through difficult situations.

Lets face it, we are all difficult to get along with at times.  Dealing with each other well is an important part of our testimony to the world.  It also has a dramatic affect on our effectiveness in serving God.  The only way we can deal with each others’ difficulties is when the Holy Spirit is producing the fruit of patience in us.

If we live long enough we will experience situations that are overwhelmingly difficult.  Some of these situations last a short time and some last a lifetime, yet we can patiently endure them when the Holy Spirit is in control of our lives.

Dear brothers and sisters, you must be patient as you wait for the Lord’s return. Consider the farmers who eagerly look for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They patiently wait for the precious harvest to ripen.  You, too, must be patient. And take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near.  For examples of patience in suffering, dear brothers and sisters, look at the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.  We give great honor to those who endure under suffering. Job is an example of a man who endured patiently. From his experience we see how the Lord’s plan finally ended in good, for He is full of tenderness and mercy.  (James 5:7, 8, 10, 11)