◄ Run With Patience ►

Let us run with endurance the race God has set before us looking to Jesus…
Hebrews 12:1

Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness
Colossians 1:10-14

For those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles.. they shall run and not be weary – they shall walk and not faint.
Isaiah 40:31

Meaning of Patience

We all have our own idea of patience and what it means to be a patient man or a patient woman. Sometimes we see an uncomplaining person lying on a couch of sickness – as patient. Patience can also be a teacher.. willingly explaining a difficult concept for the “n’th” time.

Long-suffering Patience

Often we see the farmer as patient, who unhurriedly waits for the harvest to ripen – and being quiet and calm under the stroke of adverse fortune, can demonstrate a patient spirit. There are also elements of patience seen in the ongoing grind of daily duties. All such demonstrations of patience are worthy examples of long-suffering.

Endurance Patience

When patience is teamed up with distance running it has a different connotation – endurance linked with patience can mean to keep on going, with the utmost of effort. The distance runner exhibits this sort of patient endurance in his marathon race… running with endurance is to press on to the end – to be earnest in our endeavour.

Godly Patience

The world exemplifies this through mind over matter – carried out in the flesh, but such patience always falls short of the godly patience that we are to exhibit. It falls far short of the One true exemplification of godly patience. – the Lord Jesus.

Standard of Patience

The Lord Jesus is our pattern and example of patience – our model and our standard. His life is a true example of perseverance, tolerance, long-suffering – and patience. Throughout youth and childhood He submitted to His parents – learning obedience. For 30 years He worked patiently at the carpenter’s lathe until God’s call on His life. He was fully God, yet laid aside His glory – in submission to the Father’s perfect will.

Christ’s Patience

There was an enduring patience, and a patient endurance, seen in the life of Jesus! It was an obedient waiting as well as a determination to carry out the Father’s will. It was patiently waiting for the goal of His calling as He did the menial tasks of life. Christ ran with endurance the race set before Him – by fixing His eyes on the Father, and we’re to run the same race as did Christ – by keeping our eyes focused on Him.

Enduring Patience

As believers, we have His life and His strength within, upon which to draw daily. We can utilise Christ’s spirit of patient endurance and His enduring patience.. for without me ye can do nothing – but I can do all things through Christ Who equips me.

Waiting Patience

Like Christ, our race of life is marked out by God, and each day is scheduled by Him. Christians are to draw on His grace alone – to run with patience the race set before us: for those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall rise up with wings as eagles. They shall run and not grow weary. They shall walk and not faint Isaiah 40:31

Exercising Patience

Many of us would nurse our grief without crying if we were allowed to nurse it, but in Christ, we can exercise our patience, not only in sickness but in the street. We can run with patience and endure patiently as we draw our strength from Christ.

Patience-In Christ

In Christ… we can bury our sorrows, not in lethargy, but in active service. We can remain firm in the exchange, in the workshop, at school/ We can remain patient in the hours of isolation, or social intercourse. We can be patient and calm as we minister to another’s joy or sadness. We can run with patience the race that is set before us, if we look to Jesus.

Obedient Patience

Patient endurance and enduring patience is seen throughout the life of Christ! At one time His life was waiting in obedience... at another a running obedience. He was One Who waited for the goal, while carrying out His menial tasks. He also raced to the goal of His calling, but in obedience to the will of the Father.