Longsuffering

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

Fruit Of The Spirit

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

Most of the time the fruit I bear is none that I should be proud of: bad attitude, tiredness, and selfishness. The author of Ecclesiastes had written about his life, "Meaningless! Meaningless!" says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless. What does man gain from all his labor at which he toils under the sun?” Today we often toil over things which are meaningless: position, power, beauty, financial gain, and worldly wisdom. Of course there is nothing wrong with being successful in this world, but to whom does it bring glory to, ourselves or God? We can do everything under the sun to bring joy to ourselves and others and be a good person in general, but if it does not bring glory to God our Father it is all in vain. Proverbs 31:30 says about beauty, “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.” Worldly possessions are an added gift in this life but often bring temporary and artificial satisfaction. To possess a spirit of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control will take a lifetime to obtain, but the reward will be enjoyed for an eternity spent with our Father. The Lord is calling us to character, one of which He possesses. We are to prepare ourselves, with His help, to enter into an everlasting kingdom which calls for a certain demeanor and the only way to achieve it is not by our own merit but by the grace that God gives us.

Lead Us Not Into Temptation

“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” Matthew 6:13

I’m pretty sure that most of us are familiar with this passage, what I’m not so sure about is the fact that we pray this but continue to put ourselves in temptations way. It’s funny once you start coming to the Lord the things he reveals to you about yourself. In so many ways we are still like children who need constant correction and guidance. It’s humbling to know that if we continue to run our own lives without surrendering it to God we are ultimately headed for destruction. Matthew retells us the words of our Lord, "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." We may have every good intention of resisting temptation but when we think that ‘we’ can do it on our own steam we fail. If we are not on constant guard and conscience of the world around us we are vulnerable to the enemy. In Luke 22:46 Jesus told the disciples, "Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation." We don’t want to be caught spiritually asleep, because it alters our perception, our decisions, our morals, our attitude, and our priorities. Being asleep also blocks our vision of God and allows our flesh to overcome us. If we call out to Him He listens. If we reach out to Him, He draws us in. If we trust in Him, He conquers for us! We know that this battle between good and evil is not ours, but we are caught in the middle. “The battle is not against flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, and against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12). Guard yourself with the armor of God trust in Him and He will provide for you a way. Don’t continue to put yourself in temptations door but if you are tempted (and you will be) rely on the Lord to deliver you, this is the promise of our Lord.

“No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13

What do you Treasure?

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:21

In our daily living, we hardly pay any mind to our mind. Our thoughts tend to be uncontrolled and under no clear submission. I used to think that my mind was my only real sanctuary. To me it was a place where I could think about how I really felt and about what I could or should have done. My mind was full of should of, would of, could of, and if only. I used to dwell on things that I couldn’t change or simply should have let go. The mind is filled with passion, raw, and untamed. Until you learn to bring it under the obedience of Christ you will always be slave to it. My very favorite passage is in Matthew 6:33 “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” The things we seek after effect our ‘heart’ and how our whole demeanor is perceived. Our earthly treasures will pass away and what we work so hard for is mostly in vein. When we ‘keep our eyes on the prize’ which is Christ, he rewards us with providing us with our needs. What we hold dear here and what we dwell on, is where our heart is. Do we dwell on things of the Lord and store our treasures in heaven instead of earth, or do we still chose to be slave to the ways of the world?

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Philippians 4:8

There is None Good But One

"There is none good but one, that is God." Matthew 19:17

I have heard this passage many times in my life. I have agreed with the statement and also have quoted it before, but to actually know the meaning is something completely different. I had a dream awhile back. I dreamt that I was in a tall building and I was looking outside among many other people. It was gray outside and seemed like there was a storm about to come in. I saw the clouds across the sky and they were moving quickly, as I focused in on them I realized that it was actually a massive flock of birds. The number of them was substantial and quite scary to say the least. As the crowd of people where all drawn to the windows, one bird spotted us and started to fly towards us. As it approached, its size grew and its features were evil. The bird caught my eye and marked me as its target. I was terrified that I was going to be overcome by this creature. Then without a thought going through my mind, I grabbed the closest person and shielded myself behind him. The bird was distracted and flew away. As I stood trembling with fear I suddenly realized that I had just put someone in front of me to save myself. I had put someone else in harms way and that realization made me feel sick. There is none good but one. When I woke up my first thought was I would never put someone in harms way, but that’s not true. My initial reaction without any thought was to save myself. In daily situations in life we have the chance to ‘think before we react.’ Think!? We can say that we do that all we want but most of the times our actions are reactions without any mind to consequence. In result we upset our spouses, children, friends, co-workers, and yes Christ. There is none good but who? Christ. When we truly accept Him and He dwells within us, He works out our selfish desires. The way to eliminate our initial reaction of selfishness and negative reactions is to dwell on his word day and night, to be in constant fellowship with Him, and to pray always. Then the goodness that radiates from within you will not be your goodness; but the goodness that is in Christ, who dwells in you.