Long-Suffering
I'm a huge fan of the old English versions of Scripture. The words instantly seep into my soul and soak the core of my spirit. Reading aloud the poetic verses, instantly whisks me back to another era, a land far away and a promise that spans eternity.
Nestled amidst the list of characteristics of a follower of Christ in Galatians 5:22-23, is the attribute of long-suffering. Newer versions have watered the translation down to read “patience”, but this old, practically extinct word conveys so much more than simply being patient.
The dictionary defines long-suffering as follows:
Patiently enduring wrongs or difficulties
Having endured mental or physical discomfort for a protracted period of time without complaints
Patiently bearing continual wrongs or trouble
This seems to speak to our response in an ongoing and trying situation. Not merely being patient but not being stirred to anger or retaliation, having self restraint without succumbing to circumstances or trials.
I wonder how many of us can truly claim the fruit of long-suffering. It's easy to discard or bypass the verses that make us feel uncomfortable or those that require something of ourselves to be surrendered.
The Spirit of God dwells within us and as such it is He that brings forth the bounty of characteristics (fruit) in due season. Our part is to be willing for Him to cultivate each fruit as He sees best. Afterall, He is the Master Gardener and we are the soil.
If you look closely, each of the fruits in this list can be viewed as something that flourishes in times of duress and hardship. It would then suggest that hardships and suffering are completely necessary in order for the fruit to grow. It’s not a popular idea in these days of self indulgence and instant gratification, but Galatians 5:24-25 addresses the method to which this is not only possible, but required.
This list of nine fruits of the Spirit follows a passage that describes life in the flesh. My question today, is do you want to live a life in the flesh, in total conflict with the things of God, or do you long for a life directed and purposed by the Holy Spirit? If the latter, then know, that long-suffering is a real and necessary part of your journey, and your response to it will determine the depth of your struggle.