WEDNESDAY: BE PATIENT!

Oct 5, 2022
2 min read

Lord, patience is one fruit of the Spirit that is hard for me to master. Show me today how I can practice being patient.

2 Timothy 4:1-2

In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.

While the Apostle Paul gave these instructions to his protégé Timothy, these words still ring true for me today.

Preach the Word. If I want to draw attention to God, I need to stand firm on His principles. Others will know what He stands for when I share it with them. The obligation to preach is not just for ministers with a degree or title; in the body of Christ, all are ministers for the glory of God.

Be prepared. If I want to stand up for what I believe in, I need to practice every day. Just as a soldier practices routine drills in peacetime, I must practice being prepared, so when the battle rages around me, I will be ready to face it.

Correct, rebuke and encourage. One of the ways I can practice is to use the instruction of the Word in my relationships with others. If I see a Christ-follower straying from the path, I can humbly correct them by pointing them to Scripture. If I see someone who should know better doing things they shouldn’t be doing, I can direct them to the Word of God to gently rebuke their actions. And when I see a brother or sister in Christ staying consistently on the path God has provided, I can enthusiastically encourage them to keep going.

THINK ABOUT THESE THINGS: Paul’s words of wisdom to Timothy state that it takes time to do these things. I can’t expect someone who is straying to heed God’s instructions the first time I share them. It’s going to take patience and careful instruction.

Patience is not only a virtue; it’s a fruit of the Spirit. If I don’t have patience, I won’t be able to give it away. In the course of being prepared, I learn to practice being patient. How can I practice patience? God places many people around me to test my ability to respond with patience and careful instruction. They are my family, friends, and co-workers. How I respond to them will help to determine how I will respond when I’m asked to have patience when dealing with those who oppose God. Lord, fill me with Your patience, so I’ll have abundant patience with others.

May you be blessed,

Chaplain Wayne Ruckman