PRAYING FOR THE PEOPLE OF GOD -- Tomorrow:
"For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness." (Colossians 1:9-11, KJV)
Devotion 29 of 32
" unto all . . . longsuffering . . . "
Longsuffering is a twin sister to patience. Where there is genuine patience, or endurance, longsuffering is always at her side. And, wherever you find longsuffering, patience will always be present. Faith unites these virtues, grace sustains them, and they refuse to be separated from one another.
The meaning of longsuffering is very close to that of patience. Both involve persistence and endurance. Patience has to do with continuing in the race. Longsuffering has to do with enduring all of the afflictions, hindrances and trouble that assault the person during the race – things that are necessarily associated with the race. Longsuffering is bearing up under a burden and, entering the kingdom "through much tribulation."
This is patience under trial, when it is necessary to subdue inclinations to retaliate, avenge, and return evil for evil. Longsuffering also discourages the rise of discontentment, and the inclination to quit. This is when suffering does not move the individual to respond in an ungodly manner, or cease to run the race set before him: it is LONG-suffering!
This is a Divine trait, for God Himself is "longsuffering" (Ex 34:6). So far as God Himself is concerned, this particularly has regard to forgiveness. As it is written, "The LORD is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression" (Num 14:18). This is not an attitude of indifference, as though God had no hatred for sin. The above verse continues, "and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation" (Num 14:18). This, then, is not the indifferent toleration of iniquity. Rather, it is Divine forbearance that allows a person to be brought to repentance so that God can forgive.
From our point of view, longsuffering involves genuine suffering. Pain has been inflicted upon the soul, and what was done to the longsuffering one was wrong, and is to be so recognized. Yet, longsuffering endures the wrong, seeking the recovery of the wrongdoer, and being willing to forgive. Longsuffering refuses to take such painfulness personally. It considers the race to be of greater importance than personal comforts and human acceptance.
One of the qualities that confirms a person is a "minister of God" is "longsuffering" (2 Cor 6:4-6). This is also a trait of genuine love: it "suffers LONG," "enduring ALL things" (1 Cor 13:4,7). This includes "forbearing one another in love," a quality that is to be found among the people of God. As it is written, "walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love" (Eph 4:1-2). Longsuffering is also involved in bearing with the weaknesses of weaker brethren. "We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves" (Rom 15:1).
"All longsuffering" is having a gentle and forbearing spirit when ill treatment is experienced. It involves holding back emotion, which is most difficult, if not impossible for us to control in the flesh. Psychiatrists boast of guiding people in "anger management." However, where there is no longsuffering, there can be no effective management anger, or any other fleshly outburst. That is precisely why we need God's "glorious power" to do so.
"Glorious power" is not given to men to facilitate their earthly desires. It has to do with our preparations for dwelling forever in the house of the Lord. If that does not ultimately take place, all of life has been pointless, and has been lived in vain.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank You for a power effective enough to enable me to endure things otherwise unbearable.