A Spiritual Bootcamp (Part 2)

Part 2

Patience- (2 Peter 3:9) *Godliness*

Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone. [emphasis mine]

1 Thessalonians 5:14 (NLT)

The end of a matter is better than its beginning,

and patience is better than pride.

Ecclesiastes 7:8 (NIV)

• Appreciate how patient God is with you! Dwell on how He never gives up on you, how many times He’s rescued you from sin, and so forth. It’ll make it that much easier to wait patiently for His timing, and also be patient with other people.

• Remember how God has been faithful in the past! Just like King David said in Psalm 59:9-10 (NIV): You are my strength, I watch for you; you, God, are my fortress, my God on whom I can rely.

• Trust God for the present and future! Even if it seems like things aren’t happening, progress is stalled, or you’re just stuck, have faith that He’s got a plan and He’s already working on it. You might not see it yet, but you will.

• Count your blessings! No matter what situation is trying your patience, or what season of life you’re in, there are always provisions to be thankful for. As you’re waiting, celebrate and praise God for what He’s already given you right now

Godliness-

GODLINESS Respect for God that affects the way a person lives. The term “godliness” appears most frequently in the writings of Paul, specifically the Pastoral Epistles. Paul encouraged Timothy to pursue “godliness” in an active manner (1 Tim. 6:11). By so doing, he challenged him to develop a true respect for God and then, in turn, to live his life based on that respect. He emphasized the value of godliness by contrasting it to physical training (1 Tim. 4:8). Whereas physical training has benefit for this life, Paul noted that godliness would benefit the believer in this life and in the life to come.

Strong, T. (2003). Godliness. In C. Brand, C. Draper, A. England, S. Bond, E. R. Clendenen, & T. C. Butler (Eds.), Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (p. 662). Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.

We need to live right! We can’t proclaim Christ and raise hell at the same time! We must live as God would want us to live. We must be able to look at God with these virtues and live like He lives, accordingly! We must be obedient to what God tells us to do!

Brotherly Kindness-

Did you know or realize that this concept is exclusive to believers! Those who believe in Christ and God’s Holy word!!

Then why is it that my non-church folk, my non-holy-rollers, my E=MC2 folks, treat me better than those who I share the pew with at my local church?!

God sent his only son to die for us. However, in Eph.1:5 we’re adopted unto God through Jesus, thus making us sons and daughters of God!!

But man’s sonship to God may be potential or actual. The love to man may not be reciprocated, and therefore may be incomplete. Yet it is the Christian’s duty, like God, to maintain his disposition of love and benevolence to those that hate and curse him (Lk 6:27, 28). But within the Christian community, love should respond to love, and find its fulfilment, for there all men are, or should be, God’s sons actually, “because the love of God hath been shed abroad in our hearts, through the Holy Spirit which was given unto us” (Rom 5:5).

Please don’t get it twisted ladies!! Just because Peter mentions brotherly love, you all are not exempt from this portion of your spiritual bootcamp!! You must show sisterly love or a sisterhood of love!

Rees, T. (1915). Brotherly Kindness. In J. Orr, J. L. Nuelsen, E. Y. Mullins, & M. O. Evans (Eds.), The International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia (Vol. 1–5, p. 525). Chicago: The Howard-Severance Company.