Nougat 20

How do we deal with those people who require ongoing support or correction? Consider today’s Holy Nougat

“I solemnly urge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he comes to set up his Kingdom: Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.” ‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭4‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

For many of us this Patience thing is a real challenge. Someone I know often said, give me the teens; so I know they heard me. The premise was the babies required more patience. Not true! Just a different kind. But what is patience? Is it just ‘long suffering’ or is there more? In Greek, the word is ‘makrothymía’, and refers to ‘sticktoivity’ or endurance, which embodies long suffering (not acceptance of abuse); a willingness to stay the course in anticipation of what lies ahead.

What jumped out at me is that patience must include hope and faith. For patience stays in the valley and recognizes it as the starting point to the mountains. It doesn’t simply endure to prove a point (as some of us might). Patience anticipates the prize at the end of the journey or challenge, firmly believing that the prize is attainable and worth the sacrifice.

So what then is the prize? It’s the time in glorious communion with our Sovereign; Jesus Christ. In short, because of Jesus, we can withstand, endure and persevere. No matter what comes our way, we have strength in Jesus to keep going.

Please note: this is not endorsing abuse!

In fact, we are invited to be patient when correcting, rebuking and encouraging. So our motivation for those is grounded in the desire for the other to have a similar relationship with Jesus as we have. When the Hebrew young men were being told to bow to Nebuchadnezzar or get thrown in the furnace; their respectful response was both a rebuke to the king (don’t have graven images) and correction (there’s no God but YHWH). They’d assessed the situation and determined that it was a win for them. They would either meet their Creator (what blessed joy!) or their divine rescue would be a testimony! They were patient in the process.

A challenge most of us face is that we don’t truly see meeting our Sovereign as a win. Thus, ‘self preservation’ is often prioritized over integrity or patience. But there’s hope. Patience is included in the Fruit of God’s Spirit. So we don’t have to manufacture it ourselves. And since God’s Spirit already dwells richly within us, we can ask for patience in whatever situation we face. Even when correcting, rebuking or encouraging the same person yet again.

Lord, in Your mercy, let it be so.

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May all we seek be found in Christ