Romans 15:1 Now we who are strong ought to be patient with the weaknesses of those who are not strong and must stop pleasing ourselves.
Patience is rational, non-judgemental and non-reactionary. Patience marks the spiritual maturity of a person. In the journey of faith each one is at a different level of maturity. Age, knowledge or the number of years we have been a child of God has no relevance to spiritual maturity. Spiritual maturity is not measured by how long we have walked with the Lord but how close we are to His heart. The ‘spiritually mature’ have the mind of Christ – they think, respond and reply as Jesus would. Impatience, impetuous reactions, envy and judgemental hostility clearly indicates that a person is spiritually immature.
Aaron and Miriam, the brother and sister of Moses, slandered about Moses and spread foul rumours about Moses. Jealousy made them arrogant and judgemental. “Has the LORD spoken only through Moses?” they asked. “Hasn’t he also spoken through us?” And the LORD heard this (Numbers 12:1b). Moses remained silent. He did not react, threaten or curse his siblings. The Lord God Himself testified about the credentials of Moses. (Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.) Patience and godly perseverance will earn divine credentials from the Lord. Before our ears hear about the slander, the Lord will hear the backbiting, bickering and betrayal. Our reactions and back slashing is not going to undo the damage that was done to our reputation but if we choose patience, God will reverse the tables for us.
Patience makes us meek:
1. Meek: Patience will tenderize our soul to become meek and mild.
2. Mitigate: Patience will soften our hearts and help us to bless, pray and mitigate the judgement on those who harm, defame or slander us. So Moses cried out to the Lord, “Please, God, heal her!” (vs 13).
3. Mature: Patience is the marker or the indicator of our spiritual maturity. “Fools are quick to express their anger, but wise people are patient and control themselves” (Proverbs 29:11).
Patience will mature us into godliness and meekness and will make us more like Jesus.
Prayer: Father Divine, help me not to be judgmental, arrogant or reactionary but respond patiently to those who are still growing in their faith journey. Amen.
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