JULY 13, Galatians 5:22-23

What is longsuffering? The word longsuffering in Greek is made up of two words, “long” and “anger.” Together, it means the ability of a person to hold one’s anger for a long, long time. In other words, such a person is said to be long-tempered.He is slow to anger. This is directly opposite to a person who is short-tempered. A person who is longsuffering shows patience, forbearance towards others and will not avenge wrongs. Longsuffering is that quality of self-restraint when in the face of provocation does not hastily retaliate or promptly punish. It does not give tit for tat when hurt or angered by others. We need to be longsuffering in our interaction with people.

Longsuffering is part of God’s character. Both in the Old Testament and the New Testament, whenever God is said to be longsuffering, the context often deals with man’s repentance and salvation. It has to do with God’s mercy towards men. In the Psalms, God is often described as being slow to anger and plenteous in mercy. There are many examples shown in the Bible of God’s longsuffering towards men. God is our example of longsuffering.

Are you facing difficult people in your life? They may be your classmates in school who do not like you and do things that irritate you. Should you react in anger and shout at them? Certainly not! The Bible tells us to be longsuffering. So what should we do? Turn to the Lord. You see, because we are Christians, we have the Holy Spirit in us. Having the Holy Spirit, we will also have the fruit of the Holy Spirit which includes the virtue of longsuffering. When we pray and turn to the Lord, He will give us strength to endure difficult people in our lives.

Thought: Longsuffering is part of God’s character.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to be longsuffering when I face difficult people. Help me to bear a good testimony by not retaliating and reacting in anger. May I follow your example of being longsuffering. This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.