Help Ease God's Longsuffering This Year

Longsuffering is not a word that we use much in the 21^st century. The Merriam Webster definition of it is simply: patiently enduring lasting offense or hardship. I think in this day and age it is still an appropriate word for many people. Job losses, addictions, health and family issues, anxiety, etc. causes many people, many families to endure long periods of hardship. Yet this word is not only very descriptive of our society today, it is also very descriptive of God.

Some 6000 years ago God created all of creation, the heavens, the earth, all living creatures and the human race. Into man he breathed His own breathe to grant us life. With a love that we cannot begin to comprehend He gave us free will, a choice to make whether to serve him or Satan. Some 2000 years ago the Father sent his Son to redeem mankind, to save us from our sins. He also sent his Spirit to live in believers to help us to live closer to him. We have in the vast majority of times, failed to live according to his will, we have been an offense to him. And yet God remains longsuffering with us to this day.

2 Peter 3:9, 14-15 "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us,not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance...Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation - as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you," NKJV

We are inept most of the time as Christians. Our behavior does not mirror Jesus; instead we tend to mirror the world's behavior in most aspects of our life. We fuss, argue, get angry, and threaten when others do not do what we ask or act in ways that are opposed to our belief systems. We are not very patient with others that oppose us and even at times with our family and friends.

We have ignored his desire and his plans for us to stand apart from the world. We have ignored the chance to help others and to shed light on others. We tend to be very short in being willing to be longsuffering ourselves toward those that hurt or antagonize us. And yet we count on God's longsuffering with us. We tolerate sin and find excuses for sinful behaviors.

This year, during the Christmas season, remember the gift that God gave each of us, deserving or not, let us vow to work to alleviate some of God's longsuffering as it relates to each of us. I pray that we will strive to live spotless and blameless lives for God and that we may be longsuffering with those around us. If we can do this, then we can ease some of God's longsuffering. Amen.