Patience

I Timothy 1:16-17

In his article, "Loving--Even When it Hurts", Tim Kimmel says this:

“Isn’t it puzzling that kids brought up in loving, Christian homes choose to rebel against their parents, or worse, against God? After all, they’ve had Jesus’ love served up in huge helpings. Many have enjoyed the luxuries of a deep Christian heritage — some since the day they were born. Yet they still turn their backs on truth.’’

If you have been in church very long, you have no doubt seen a parent struggle with a child's choice to rebel against God. You see the burden it places on the parent(s). You see their prayers, with tears in their eyes. They pray in faith that God will draw that child to Himself, and often that their relationship will be restored.

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“However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.”

I Timothy 1:16-17

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Paul, writing to young Timothy, says that Jesus redeemed him for the purpose of being an example to others. "For this reason I obtained mercy..." means that his conversion was to be an example to others. The example his conversion showed was that of the patience of Jesus. I love the word "longsuffering". Patience is a little one dimensional. There is a huge difference in waiting patiently in the drive through line of a fast-food restaurant and agonizing for years over a prodigal child. Paul says that Jesus was patient with him, and that patience was mercy from Jesus. Apparently, there was some length of time in which Paul knew he needed to receive Christ, and when he finally quit fighting the conviction.

He goes on to say that his life was a "pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life", but they have not yet. I look back on my own salvation, and I resisted Jesus for a while also. I know that during that time, had I died, I would have gone to Hell. However, just like Paul, Jesus was merciful to me because He knew that I would "believe on Him for everlasting life" as well. I, like Paul, received that mercy. This is an assurance to us that God is not petty. He will wait as long as He needs to if He knows that a person will eventually receive Him. Peter shared the same truth this way, "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance" (II Peter 3:9).

To the one who is praying for the prodigal child, as long as there is breath, Jesus is still giving mercy. I am not making a false promise that they will humble themselves and repent. However, the problem does not lie on the side of God. He wants to redeem all of His creation, but He does not force Himself on us. We still have a choice. However, if there is a chance of repentance to salvation, or repentance to a right relationship with God and family, God does not want anyone to perish. He is in the lifegiving business, not the condemnation business. That was all the work of Satan. However, God will honor our choice.

The final verse is a verse of praise. Paul, thinking of his salvation, broke out in worship of God. Jesus is worthy of worship because of His saving work. God the Father is worthy of worship because He is eternal, incorruptible (He does not age or break down in any way), invisible (no man has seen God), wise, and deserving of honor and glory for all eternity. I should also point out that Jesus and His Father are one (John 10:30), so Jesus is worthy of worship for all the same reasons as well, and God was just as much a part of the plan of salvation as Jesus. It is wrong to think that They are somehow different in the purpose, glory, righteousness, or honor.

Thank You Father for being so patient with us. Thank You for Your Son who died for us, and shows His mercy in our redemption. We pray for the salvation of our loved ones, and we thank You that You are longsuffering concerning their salvation. May we be longsuffering in our prayers. You are worthy of our praise and worship, and we love You for being the God that You are!