God is Patient: Gospel Today Devotional - 8th December, 2022

KNOWING GOD SERIES

If there's anything we have enjoyed so much on the surface of the earth, it is the patience of God. If there's any reason people are still alive, and have not been destroyed even though by the day they keep disobeying God both in their thoughts, and actions, it is because God is patient. The patience of God is what the earth, and everyone on it has enjoyed thus far, and should I say that we are all still enjoying God's patience. It would not be an exaggerated fact if any should say that God is too patient. This is nothing but the truth. The God of the universe, the Creator of all that is in heaven, and in earth is indeed a patient God.

Why do you think a man would raise his hands all of a sudden and begin to beat his wife when she says things to him that he doesn't like? Because his patience has gone beyond its tolerance level that he can no longer take in such words. Why is it that many rush to do things, and later regret that they ever did such things? It is because for many persons in that category, they were too impatient. This points our attention to one salient truth that many people are impatient. They cannot wait neither can they tolerate things without blowing things out of proportion.

It takes one who has the nature of God, and has come to understand that God is patient to actually exhibit that nature of God; patience. This has been a series indeed, and I want to believe that God has opened our eyes to quite a number of things about himself that we need to know, and that we need to begin to put into practice such that his very nature is seen at work in our lives. Praise God. The passage of scripture under consideration is seen below,

"The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" ( 2 Peter 3:9).

If you look at the scripture above, and read meditatively too, it points our attention to one very important truth; the very fact that God is not slack. God is not slow, he is not inadequate to do the things that he has promised to do. God is not less powerful as to bring to pass that which he has said to do. No, not at all. It is just that God is patient. He is long-suffering. He has chosen to be patient with us, why? Because that again is his nature. It is not what he tries or struggles to do. He is patience personified. God is patient!

The problem however is that many think God is slow because of his patience, they have considered God to be inadequate, less powerful, and unfaithful to his words because he choose to be patient with us. Need I tell you that if God were to stop being patient, no one would stand. We are all sustained by God's patience; believers, and unbelievers alike. But he can't do that, why? That would be God acting contrary to his nature. God is patient, and he will continue to be patient. It is my prayer that we all do not abuse his patience.

His patience calls to the unrepentant sinner to come to him so he doesn't perish, his patience calls the believer who has erred to stand on his feet again. His patience gives the opportunity to call, and to return to him. Therefore, as believers, knowing that our Father is patient, let's seek to by all means to be patient even as our Father is patient. Let this nature of God be evident in our lives, and in our relationship with others. May the Lord help us all. Amen.

Thought for the day: 

Impatience is costly. It is never one of God's essential attributes. God is patient, and as a son of his, you should be patient as well.

Gospel Today is a comforting, exhorting, edifying and inspiring devotional published by the Delightsome Land Christian Ministry. For questions, enquiries/testimonies, please call/WhatsApp: 08174915361, 08161655758 or Email: [email protected].