With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love. Eph 4:2

You’ve probably heard the saying “Patience is a virtue.” By the actions of our society, it doesn’t seem to be a virtue that many want to develop. Too often it may be said by some “I’m running out of patience” and “I have no patience for the likes of you.” An ole’ phrase from the past used by dear friends was “suffer me during this time.” Building dependable and reliable relationships had the idea of those who had endured hardship and difficulty together, which seems very different than how relationships are viewed today. It seems that patience has lost its meaning and appeal over time, and few consider patience and longsuffering a virtue worth pursuing. We don’t want to wait, and we certainly don’t want to suffer! The Bible uses the word patience interchangeably with the word longsuffering. The scripture passage instructs us in the manner of Christian love. Christians are to exemplify God’s love to one another. Love is the common bond of Christian relationships, and that bond is forged “with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love.” God was patient and longsuffering with us “that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom 5:8). God continues to patiently wait for all humanity and “desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of truth” (1 Tim 2:4). God is longsuffering with His children to grow in the likeness of His Son, forgiving their shortcomings, and chastening them in love. God’s longsuffering includes His forgiveness. “He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 Jn 1:9). Dear friend, children of God are mirrors of God’s love and longsuffering. We are to show godly patience and mercy to others that mirrors the patience and mercy God has shown to us. We are to bear with others, put up with the mistakes and inconsiderate actions of others, and forgive one another for offenses against us, whether real or imagined. Through God’s grace, we can endure trials and wait patiently and faithfully for His intervention as we “put on…longsuffering, forbearing…and forgiving one another…even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye” (Col 3:12-13). Is there someone who will see God’s love and longsuffering through your actions today? Father, thank You for Your love and longsuffering for me. Help me to be a mirror of Your love and longsuffering to others that Christ will be exalted and glorified. In the blessed Name of Jesus. Amen.

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27

I pray that you had a wonderful worship as you gathered with your local church on the Lord’s Day. What brings you peace? The tranquility of nature. Seeing the world fresh and new through the eyes of a child. Removing burdens and resolving cares. All these things seem to give calm and moments of rest to an anxious spirit, but all these things fade in time. What is the thing that gives you constant peace? The thing that settles your heart, satisfies your soul, and secures you with peace of mind. The scripture passage is the promise for peace of heart. The enduring peace of Jesus Christ. The peace that Jesus had while He walked on earth, and the peace that He made with the Father, He will now “give unto you.” It is a peace that is compared like no other “as the world giveth.” The peace of Christ is received at the very moment one trusts and believes in Him for salvation. The believer has peace with God. All our sin is forgiven and nothing “shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom 8:39). No longer should “your heart be troubled” but settled in peace with God as you have received the peace of God. The peace of God works in the heart of the believer and through their life to manifest God’s love. The child of God experiences the peace of God through prayer, supplication, and thanksgiving. The peace of God, that dwells in the heart of the believer, makes known the presence of God. And in His presence, we fear Him yet not be “afraid.” His presence is light in darkness and His light is peace to the troubled soul. We can delight in His presence and the soon coming appearance of His Son Jesus Christ. At His appearance, we will be received by the One who made peace for us and have the eternal peace with Him in heaven. Dear friend when you think of heaven is your heart troubled or are you afraid? Jesus died for all the sin of the world and made peace with God for the “propitiation” (1 Jn 2:2) to close the debt of sin owed by all men. Jesus made peace with God through His shed blood. He reconciled us to God that we might know the peace of God and live in peace with Him for all eternity. Take confidence my friend, that “being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom 5;1). In this world we will have trials, troubles, and tribulation, but “let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” if you have received the “peace of God, which surpasses all understanding” (Phil 4:7). Father thank You for Your love and the gift of peace through Your Son Jesus Christ. In the blessed Name of Jesus. Amen.  

These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy may be in you, and your joy may be full. Jn 15:11.

Joy is spontaneous. The joy of a little child arises so naturally and springs forth so easily. It seems to lie in awaiting only to burst forth like the dawn of a new day whose light dances across the horizon and fills the sky with even more brightness. The scripture passage before us describes God’s plan to fill us with the fullness of His joy. His desire is “that My joy be in you, and your joy be full.” The joy God supplies is solely in Him rather than the ever-changing circumstances that surround us. The world around us is always changing, unstable, and full of troubles, but Jesus is full of joy that He gives to all who hear Him and come to Him. All who receive Jesus, receive His joy. His joy is in and through the constant, abiding presence of the Holy Spirit that flows like sap from the vine to the branches. “The fruit of the Spirit is . . . joy” (Gal 5:22). Though circumstances change, and we pass through the seasons of life, His joy fills and flows to those grafted into the true Vine to experience “joy unspeakable and full of glory” (1 Pet 1:8). His joy is sweet (Song 2:3) to the one that abides in Him (Jn 15:5). And His joy is made perfect to one who “keeps His word…to walk just as He walked” (1 Jn 2:5-6). Dear friend, hear the word of God “spoken unto you” that you may know “the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Neh 8:10) and “be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might” (Eph 6:10). When Paul and Silas were beaten and thrown into jail, the joy of the Lord within them broke forth in prayer and sang praises unto God that a great earthquake shook the prison and the chains that bound them fell loose. Dear friend, the joy of the Lord fills you that it may free you from the chains of the world that bind and burden you. Though the weights and burdens in this world may linger like the dark of night, dear friend, hear the word of God say, “rejoice in the Lord always, again I say, rejoice” (Phil 4:4) for “joy comes in the morning” ((Ps 30:5). Father thank You for the joy of Your salvation that is in Christ Jesus. In His fullness I will ever rejoice and sang praises unto You. In the blessed Name of Jesus. Amen.