Rejoice in suffering. Romans 5:3
According to John MacArthur’s book The Quest for Character, he claims the biblical word longsuffering is often neglected and is actually a character quality of real maturity. He goes on to say that “Longsuffering is a particular kind of patient, gentle, persevering self-control that especially comes into play in our dealings with people who deliberately try to provoke us.” Whether we are provoked deliberately or by the nature of a situation we will always have longsuffering to deal with. Endurance is a key trait of longsuffering 2 Timothy 2:12 says, “If we endure, we will also reign with him.” And Romans 8:18 it explains, “Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later.” We get entangled in a web of deceit that tells us when we go through trials it is a bad thing, rather than being joyful for being tested through fire. When metals go through the fire they are not burned but refined. Our Father wants to do such work in us so that we can have not only His character but peace within ourselves. If we suffer by the hand of our own ignorance what credit do we receive? To suffer with patience and be innocent, that is commendable in the sight of the Lord.
Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.
So be happy when you are insulted for being a Christian, for then the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you. If you suffer, however, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people’s affairs. But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name! For the time has come for judgment, and it must begin with God’s household. And if judgment begins with us, what terrible fate awaits those who have never obeyed God’s Good News? And also,
If the righteous are barely saved, what will happen to godless sinners?”
So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you. 1 Peter 4:12-19
According to John MacArthur’s book The Quest for Character, he claims the biblical word longsuffering is often neglected and is actually a character quality of real maturity. He goes on to say that “Longsuffering is a particular kind of patient, gentle, persevering self-control that especially comes into play in our dealings with people who deliberately try to provoke us.” Whether we are provoked deliberately or by the nature of a situation we will always have longsuffering to deal with. Endurance is a key trait of longsuffering 2 Timothy 2:12 says, “If we endure, we will also reign with him.” And Romans 8:18 it explains, “Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later.” We get entangled in a web of deceit that tells us when we go through trials it is a bad thing, rather than being joyful for being tested through fire. When metals go through the fire they are not burned but refined. Our Father wants to do such work in us so that we can have not only His character but peace within ourselves. If we suffer by the hand of our own ignorance what credit do we receive? To suffer with patience and be innocent, that is commendable in the sight of the Lord.
Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.
So be happy when you are insulted for being a Christian, for then the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you. If you suffer, however, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people’s affairs. But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name! For the time has come for judgment, and it must begin with God’s household. And if judgment begins with us, what terrible fate awaits those who have never obeyed God’s Good News? And also,
If the righteous are barely saved, what will happen to godless sinners?”
So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you. 1 Peter 4:12-19
The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23
