Depending on the translation, the third fruit of the spirit is either forbearance, longsuffering or patience.
Forbearance: the quality of someone who is patient and able to deal with a difficult person or situation without becoming angry.
Longsuffering: suffering for a long time without complaining : very patient during difficult times.
Patience: the act of being patient. (Not much help unless you know the definition of "patient".)
Patient: 1: Bearing pains or trials calmly or without complaint. 2: manifesting forbearance under provocation or strain. 3: not hasty or impetuous
4: steadfast despite opposition, difficulty, or adversity
At first blush, the words "forbearance" and "longsuffering" appealed to the academic ear. They sounded more "Biblical" and King-Jamesish", but after reading the multiple definitions for "patient", methinks that the rather pedestrian word "patience" is a more apt choice.
4: steadfast despite opposition, difficulty, or adversity
At first blush, the words "forbearance" and "longsuffering" appealed to the academic ear. They sounded more "Biblical" and King-Jamesish", but after reading the multiple definitions for "patient", methinks that the rather pedestrian word "patience" is a more apt choice.
In the 1990's, t-shirts, car bumpers and bracelets were adored with the four letters WWJD. What Would Jesus Do? While I would never presume to know what Jesus would do in any given situation, we can look at what Jesus did in certain situations by looking at scripture.
When did Jesus exhibit patience?
1. Bearing pains or trials calmly or without complaint-- Matthew 27:11-12
Jesus Christ. God incarnate. The Creator. The Alpha and Omega. In the latter chapters in Matthew, Christ is being falsely accused, beaten, taunted, humiliated. Yet "he made no reply". His lot was given to him by his Heavenly Father.
Isaiah tell us "as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he (Jesus) did not open his mouth." Jesus knew obedience to his Father would be excruciatingly painful, extremely unfair and eventually fatal. Yet he did not grumble, grouse or gripe. No carping, caterwauling or croaking.
2. Manifesting forbearance under provocation or strain. The religious leaders of the day were some of Jesus' biggest antagonists. Multiple times in the scripture we see Phrasiees and Saducees challenging Christ.
Picture the scene in Matthew 12. Jesus and his disciples are walking down a dust road on the Sabbath in early April. Hunger starts to gnaw, bellies start to growl. What does a hungry group of men do? They find something to eat. In this case, some barley that has ripened.
The religious leaders of the day were waiting to pounce. "You can't harvest on the Sabbath! You have broken the law! Gloom, despair and agony!"
Did Jesus smite them? Did he call down fire and brimstone? No, he answered them with logic, reason and scripture.
Patience. Patience at work. Patience at home. Patience at the mall. Patience with trials. Patience.
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