THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT – LONG-SUFFERING

 

 

But rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.  (1 Peter 4:13-16 NKJV)

 

The long-suffering silence of our Lord was the marvel of His foes.

"As a lamb that is led to the slaughter and as a sheep that before her shearers is dumb," He opened not His mouth. Before the high priests, He held His peace. To Pilate He gave no answer. Amid the challenge and reproach of the cross, He answered nothing, save in benediction and prayer. "When He was reviled He did not answer with reviling; when He suffered, He uttered no threats, but left His wrongs in the hands of the righteous Judge."

Surely this has been His habit through the centuries. In every child suffering through drunken parents, in every martyr burnt at the stake, in every innocent sufferer before high-handed oppression, He has been led as a lamb to the slaughter, but how silent He is! Man may murder His servants and blaspheme His name, but He says never a word! This is the claim of one of those strange announcements which make the Book of Revelation so remarkable. "When He had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half-an-hour." The songs of heaven are hushed; the multitude which cannot be numbered listens to the groans and appeals of their unhelped brethren; the angels stay their anthems, and seem intent on the tragedies about to be described (Revelation 8:1). But there does not appear to be any help.

But remember that silence does not imply indifference. At the very time that our Lord was silent before His judges, He was bearing the sin of the world. When the silence is proclaimed in heaven, we find that the prayers of the saints are being presented on the throne. Prayers of intercession, mingled with much incense of Christ's merit.

It is in this spirit that we are to suffer. We are to conceal our anguish as stoics. No suffering rightly born is in vain, but in some little way, which you may not understand, you are helping Christ in His redemptive work. Be calm, quiet, and glad! Pray for those who despitefully use you, and ask that your sufferings, rightly born with, may lead to their conversion, as Stephen's did in the case of Saul.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, of Your infinite mercy, give me such assurance of Your protection amid the troubles and circumstances of this mortal life, that I may be preserved in quietness of spirit and in inward peace. I ask it in Jesus' name, AMEN.

God's Daily Promise

Promise #313:
I am your light and your salvation, the strength of your life.

Psalm 27:1 (WEB)
Yahweh is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear?
Yahweh is the strength of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid?