Thought for Today

Patience

The significance of the patience in the New Testament is quite striking. Only the patient person received the promise (Matt. 24:11), only the patient person brings forth good fruit (Luke 8:15). A faith which does not become patient is inauthentic, unusable. Faith must be proved. It can only be proved in suffering. Only suffering and endurance will produce the “perfect work” (James 1:3ff). If we remember that the word faith already contains the element of faithfulness, we shall not be surprised at the close connection between faith and patience. There is patience only “in Jesus” (Rev 1:9) for Jesus was patient as he bore the cross. Hebrews 12:2 describes Jesus’ way of the cross as a way of endurance, of patience. For us, endurance means to stand in the fellowship of Christ’s suffering (I Cor. 1:6ff), and thereby to gain assurance. If we share in the patience of Jesus, we shall ourselves become patient and we will finally have a share in his kingdom (2 Tim. 2:12). The way to patience leads through discipline (2 Peter 1:6). The freer we are from ease and indolence and personal claims, the more ready we shall be for patience.

—from A Testament to Freedom 443-444