 |  |
"we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth
he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it."
Romans 15: 4 tells us that the Scriptures,
"were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures
might have hope."
"Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward
another according to Christ Jesus: that ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify
God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ" (15: 5, 6).
Turning to II Pet. 1: 5-7 we have the following steps:
Add to your faith virtue knowledge temperance patience godliness and to
godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, charity.
"For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be
barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1: 8).
The Apostle Paul is our example. In writing to Timothy he remind him of the
persecutions and afflictions he suffered, but despite all the adversity, his faith and
patience remained firm.
"But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering,
charity, patience, persecutions, afflictions, . . . . . but out of them all the Lord delivered
me" (II Tim. 3: 10, 11).
He warns Timothy that those who would live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer
persecution.
As we read of all the things that Paul suffered, and remember his experience in prison,
we realize how much patience Paul needed. Yet he endured, and wrote those wonderful
epistles which contain the revelation of the mystery and the hope that awaits us.
Is it not wonderful that in Rom. 15:, we have the reference to the God of patience and
consolation? (verse 5). This is followed by the title the God of hope in verse 13 and in
verse 33, the God of peace.
Have we ever thought of the tremendous amount of patience that has been shown by
God over so many years? How patient was God with Israel, His chosen people! And
when in the fullness of time, God sent His Son, He was rejected and crucified. Yet, God
is patient still. He is the God of patience awaiting the time when His purposes will be
fulfilled. And if God is so patient and if Paul our example was patient too, should we not
also be patient?
The parable of the sower (Luke 8: 15) refers to the seed that was sown on good
ground which brought forth fruit with patience. If we sow seed, whether in our gardens,