+DEV+ The Patience of God

Date: January 29, 2013 11:47 PM
Topic: +DEV+  The Patience of God

The Patience of God

"The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."  (2 Peter 3:9)
Scripture Focus: Exodus 34:6-7; Nehemiah 9:17b-25

My friend likes to say that if he'd written the Bible, it would be a very short book: "God makes man and woman, Adam and Eve sin, they are blown to bits, the end." This tells you he is not a patient man!

But God is very different from my friend, or any of us in His astounding patience and long-suffering love. If God forgives you once, you are glad and grateful. When He forgives again, you are slightly embarrassed and perhaps determined to try harder. What happens when you struggle with the same besetting sin for 15, 20 years, or more? What if you really want to change but can't? This is what it feels like to be the prodigal child over and over again - to rebel and sin grievously only to find your Father watching and waiting, longing for your return. He does not wait grudgingly with disappointment and anger. Instead, He rushes to embrace you and celebrate the repentance He has given you for the millionth time! Through our struggle with sin, we come to understand and experience God's surprising patience.

Insight:  "The multiplied pardons the believer receives increase his admiration of... the mercy of the covenant. He loves much, for much has been forgiven." (John Newton)




Please feel free to use this devotional to send on to your friends or share with your church fellowship and Bible study groups.