“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” - Colossians 3:12 (NIV).
Road users in Uganda are likely to witness two constant happening. First, there is that driver who keeps in his queue, quietly moving along with sometimes a painfully slow moving traffic. He bids his time and after a while traffic clears and gets to his destination. Then, there is that ever impatient driver, who has no time to stick to a queue, but keeps crudely jumping others in front, sometimes ending up causing a third or fourth lane, which then blocks the rest of road users and brings all traffic to a standstill.
Now, there are cases where those who jump queues can be excused because of an emergency, just like hospital ambulances. However, there are those for whom this is a habit, and actually they despise those who stay in their lane, as hopelessly slow thinking. It is like others have nowhere to go or have urgent matters to attend to, just them alone! Some people call that being selfish, a vice.
Being patient is one of the virtues that characterize the new life in Christ. Hebrews 6:15 says, “And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.” Abraham waited patiently for God to lead him to the Promised Land. The Psalmist says, “In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.” (Psalm 5:3). The Apostle James observes, “Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.” (James 5:7-8).
There are rules that govern our civil conduct and when we observe them we are all at peace. Being considerate of others, is one of those expected of any road user. However, because of the impatience of some, the police has to be deployed to make sure everyone stays in his lane. The person of the world needs someone to caution him to be patient, but for a believer being patient is decidedly one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22).
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, today I rise and pray that you help me be patient in my affairs, as a sign of the working of the Holy Spirit in me, this I pray in Jesus’s name!
Related upcoming events
-
06/05/2024 - 07/05/2024 All day“Do not confirm to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is- his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2)
Almost all cultivators are aware that if soils are used perpetually without rains but constantly under work they are deprived of all nutrients. So, though once productive, they lose all power to yield fresh crops as before. But so is our Christian life when we do not regularly feed our spirit life with the Word!
In our leading verse, the Apostle Paul is urging believers to “renew” their minds rather than make them stale, lest they end up losing all power to yield fruit. But how is this done? We renew our minds by constantly reading the Word of God, for there are always insights with God speaking to us afresh. Psalm 119:104-5 says, “I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path. Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” The Apostle Peter reminds us, “Like newborn babies hungry for milk, you should want the pure teaching that feeds your spirit. With it you can grow and be saved.” It is a beautiful illustration for any who have seen a hungry baby sucking the teats of a mother.
Renewing our minds is also by reading about the lives of people of faith who have walked before us and their created works. The Christian faith started in the first century after Jesus was crucified and resurrected from the dead. Now over two millenniums it has produced giants of faith who have shared their walk with God through inspired teachings that are a treasure to dig into. By scouring the writings of the great saints before us, listening to their recorded sermons, songs and preaching, which these days can be found on virtual medial channels like Yu tube, reading their biographies, our faith is renewed.
And then we also renew our faith through fellowship. When the Apostle Paul urges us, “not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching” ( Hebrews 10:25), he is reminding us that our faith cannot grow in isolation. During the Covid pandemic lockdown one bitter issue was denying Believers opportunity to meet fellow followers of Christ to share testimonies showing the work of God in their lives.
So today, if your faith is on a low keel, or you want it to flower, one thing you can’t help doing without is “renewing” your mind. The blessings to unfold are endless.
Prayer for today:Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, what a treasure we have of your rich Word to dig into always; books around us of faith to inspire us; and believers to share our faith- may we make use of these, this I pray in Jesus’ name.
