The Necessity of Patience

We’re living in uncertain and troubled times. That’s why we need the fruit of the Spirit even more, and one flavor in particular.

After addressing such works of the flesh as enmity, strife, and fits of anger, the Apostle Paul introduces the fruit of the Spirit: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Gal 5:22-23a).

This verse shows us this fruit’s nine different flavors. The Holy Spirit, when given room, bears a fruit with nine different characteristics.

As children of God, we need all nine varieties of this fruit, from love to self-control. “If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit” (Gal 5:25). But the variety that we need most in our present day is patience. And its only source is the Holy Spirit. Reflect for a moment on the state of things in our world: the prevalence of homosexuality, legalized abortion, the breakdown of marriage and family, the fracturing of every moral tradition and standard. On top of this, there is also widespread rejection of God’s plan of salvation in our society.

How should we as children of God react to such a situation? In light of these things, it would be normal to ask, “Why doesn’t God intervene? Why doesn’t He destroy those who are trampling His truth in one fell swoop?”

But that reaction comes from our flesh. The answer, by contrast, comes from a compassionate, merciful, Christian point of view: God wants every person to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth (1 Tim 2:4). God has patience with us, and doesn’t want anyone to be lost (2 Pet 3:9). So, it’s necessary for followers of Jesus to practice patience daily. We need to have patience with the world in which we live, and reach out to it in love rather than in anger. For the fruit of the Spirit is … patience.

Midnight Call - 10/2023