Overall Question: Why is patience or endurance so important in the Christian life?

Memory Text: Hebrews 10:36 “For you need endurance [patience], so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.”

Sunday – Patience Is an Attribute of God
Exodus 34:6 God’s Word to the Nations “Then he passed in front of Moses, calling out, "The LORD, the LORD, a compassionate and merciful God, patient, always faithful and ready to forgive.”
Exodus 34:6 COMMENTARY BY JAMIESON, FAUSSET, AND BROWN Being about to republish His law--the sin of the Israelites being forgiven and the deed of pardon about to be signed and sealed by renewing the terms of the former covenant--it was the most fitting time to proclaim the extent of the divine mercy which was to be displayed, not in the case of Israel only, but of all who offend.
2 Peter 3:8-9 God’s Word to the Nations “8 ¶ Dear friends, don’t ignore this fact: One day with the Lord is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. 9 ¶ The Lord isn’t slow to do what he promised, as some people think. Rather, he is patient for your sake. He doesn’t want to destroy anyone but wants all people to have an opportunity to turn to him and change the way they think and act.”
Romans 15:5 God’s Word to the Nations “May God, who gives you this endurance and encouragement, allow you to live in harmony with each other by following the example of Christ Jesus.”

Monday – Patience Required
Ephesians 4:1-2 BBE “1 ¶ I then, the prisoner in the Lord, make this request from my heart, that you will see that your behaviour is a credit to the position which God’s purpose has given you, 2 ¶ With all gentle and quiet behaviour, taking whatever comes, putting up with one another in love;”
Ephesians 4:2 COMMENTARY BY ALBERT BARNES Hence, if we would have life move on smoothly, we must learn to bear and forbear. We must indulge the friend that we love in the little peculiarities of saying and doing things which may be important to him, but which may be of little moment to us. Like children, we must suffer each one to build his playhouse in his own way, and not quarrel with him because he does not think our way the best.
Romans 14:1 Holman “Accept anyone who is weak in faith, but don’t argue about doubtful issues
Romans 15:1 Holman “Now we who are strong have an obligation to bear the weaknesses of those without strength, and not to please ourselves.”

Tuesday – Patience in the Gospel
2 Timothy 4:2 God’s Word to the Nations “Be ready to spread the word whether or not the time is right. Point out errors, warn people, and encourage them. Be very patient when you teach.”
2 Timothy 4:2 SDA BIBLE COMMENTARY Every phase of the minister’s task, whether reproving, rebuking, or exhorting, should be clothed with the grace of patience and compassion. Severe, cold condemnation will never bring sinners to Christ.
Mark 4:26-29 NLT “26 And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; 27 And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. 28 For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. 29 But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.”
1 Samuel 16:7 NIV “But the LORD said to Samuel, ‘Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."”

Wednesday – Patience Has Its Limits
Genesis 6:3 NRSV “Then the LORD said, "My spirit shall not abide in mortals forever, for they are flesh; their days shall be one hundred twenty years."”
Genesis 6:3 COMMENTARY BY MATTHEW HENRY Note, The time of God's patience and forbearance towards provoking sinners is sometimes long, but always limited: reprieves are not pardons; though God bear a great while, he will not bear always.
Deuteronomy 31:27 God’s Word to the Nations “I know how rebellious you are. You are impossible to deal with. While I am alive and still with you, you are rebelling against the LORD. How much more rebellious will you be after I die?”
Psalm 95:8 God’s Word to the Nations “"Do not be stubborn like my people were at Meribah, like the time at Massah in the desert.”
Jeremiah 17:23 God’s Word to the Nations “Your ancestors did not obey me or pay attention to me. They were impossible to deal with and would not listen or accept discipline.”

Thursday – How to Develop Patience [Endurance]
James 1:2-4 Holman “2 ¶ Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.
James 1:3 COMMENTARY BY ADAM CLARKE Trials put religion, and all the graces of which it is composed to proof; the man that stands in such trials gives proof that his religion is sound, and the evidence afforded to his own mind induces him to take courage, bear patiently, and persevere.
James 1:4 COMMENTARY BY ALBERT BARNES Everyone who is afflicted should desire that the fair effects of affliction should be produced on his mind, or that there should be produced in his soul precisely the results which his trials are adapted to accomplish.

I think patience is allowing someone to do what they are doing.

pk

JAMES423

patience could be allowing people to do what they want
but I also think that patience is being able to
wait for something to happen in a clam manner....

dgrimm60

Well said! Exactly what my biggest hurdle is. After all,

"I am the oldest sibling. Don't you others make the same mistakes. Isn't that the definition of insanity--Making the same mistakes over and over-expecting the different results?"
These younguns have to learn the hard way!!

COC it took the Lord many years to help me with my impatience (temper), and he is still helping me. :)

pk

Patience, according to the dictionary, is enduring affliction with calmness, tolerant, understanding, persevering, and steadfast. (It takes a God to help a person be all those things, doesn't it!)

My question is: "Must the Christian always allow others to do anything they want to you without any recourse (protection or aid) by or for the Christian in order to remain a 'patient' Christian?"

CONTENTED

I DON'T think we(as christians) have to let others just
take advantage of the situtation to show we have patience

dgrimm60

My answer is no. God didn't make us to be abused and/or trampled on. At one point in her book Adventist Home, EGW says that an abused wife shouldn't stay in a relationship that has no redeeming qualities. (please correct me if I'm wrong here)

Alex

How would you describe a 'patient' Christian?
‘Slow to anger’? ‘Persevering at a task? Enduring injuries, insults and trouble?
Enduring ‘pain’ for a long time? Long-suffering with people? Firmly loyal and
constant? Strength of mind so one can endure with courage? Merciful? Allowing
maximum time so others can change? Sweet tempered? Slow to punish - retaliate?
Allowing 'evil' so another person can discover the error of their ways in their own
time? All of the above? None of the above?

What's you take on it?

CONTENTED

IT says slow to anger slow to punish

it does not say not do those thing at all

dgrimm60