There are two important Greek words for patience:
Hupomone: patience in circumstances, inspired by hope
Makrothumia: patience with people, inspired by mercy.
We see in James 5:7-9, 11 and II Peter 3:9, 15 that the Lord is patiently waiting for the lost to repent.
We are called to patience. Colossians 3:12-13 and Ephesians 4:1-2 couple the word patience with the phrase “bearing one another”.
The completion of patience: From James 1:2-4, the practice of patience helps complete something lacking in us.
How could this be true in forbearance with people?
- They bring out the worst in us. . . so the best will come out.
- They keep us from thinking too highly of ourselves.
- They keep our pretenses from working.
This is what they are supposed to be doing. II Corinthians 4:10-12 : In any given relationship demanding patience, God could be working life in one person and death in the other.
This is a follow-up of a conversation I was having with Holly last night.
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