Patience Week 3

The Practices of Patience

Do not judge

Romans 2:1–4 NIV

You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. Now we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?

Paul calls this process ‘supressing the truth’ in chapter 1.

Paul says, it is God’s kindness, patience and forbearance (which means, ‘patient restraint’) that drives him.

But when we judge and condemn, we operate out of hatred, impatience and impulsiveness

God’s goal for us is repentance. He was kind and he forgave us - so we change as a response.

Not simply sorry - but actual change.

We can’t assume because we know the truth or the gospel, that simply knowing it and recognizing it will mean God will go ‘oh ya, it’s totally fine if you’re not doing what I want.’ The jews had the same problem - we have the law, so it doesn’t matter if we’re judgmental.

Voltaire - ‘God will forgie, that’s his business’.

‘a lack of concern for sin is incompatible with true faith’.

We make decisions to change our lives and hearts to show that we aren’t treating this truth with contempt.

This leads to taking God’s forgiveness and kindness seriously

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Show endless mercy

Matthew 18:21–22 NIV

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

We can’t miss the context here. Jesus had just finished a teaching on what happens with people who have stumbled - and specifically, what we should do about people who have sinned against US in that process.

This is why peter asks this question. (BEING SUPER GENEROUS).

Jesus as a response, tells the story of the unmerciful servant.

SUMMARIZE STORY

The amount the servant owed was absolutely incomprehensible. There is no chance he could have paid it back.

The man asks for a chance to repay - the king offers a chance to be completely forgiven the debt.

The first servant threatend the second servant over a ridiculously smaller amount, and sentenced him to a harsher punishment than the king originally had given.

Because the second servant didn’t change his heart due to the king’s grace - he was punished (In fact - punished harsher!)

What does this have to do with patience?

The first servant asked for patience, and the king demonstrated mercy and grace

The second servant asked for patience, and the first servant demonstrated impatience instead.

Jesus says - if you’re the second guy - you’re not going to receive forgiveness.

Having more mercy means seeing more grace

Mercy is NOT getting what you deserve.

Grace is getting what you don’t deserve.

In Jesus, we have more grace than we know what to do with. (God goes beyond forgiving us - he blesses us, guides us, walks with us, helps us grow).

But we show how much that’s changed us by how we treat other people.

Has God given us billions, and we’re still willing to choke out somebody else over pocket change? Has God forgiven your immeasurable sins, and you’re willing to throw someone away over a problem?

Jesus once said, the measure we use will be measured to us. That doesn’t mean, we let people do whatever they want, God will let us do whatever we want. It’s about our standard on sin. The way we judge other people reflects how much we’ve been changed. And if we still have harshness and impatience in our hearts - God will treat us with the same harshness.

This sounds bad. But if we think about it. What jesus is saying is - the goal is not just to say the words ‘Jesus is Lord’. The goal is- for Jesus to be lord in your life. And in the first servant’s life - he was his own lord. He took the grace from the king and it just went right over his head, and he moved onto harshness and unforgiveness. The king wasn’t his lord - he was his bank account to keep doing what he wanted to do.

Choose joy

James 1:2–5 NIV

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

This is a tough recommendation - consider it joy when you face trials.

Paul points to this end goal - perseverence (or patience).

Paul says - let perseverence do it’s thing.

Here’s that phrase again - wisdom.

Being joyful means maturity and completeness

Have you ever thought of it this way?

We think intelligence, answers, seriousness leads to maturity.

Paul says it’s joy, perseverance.

Jesus can give you the power to do all this - and more