“But the fruit of the Spirit is …..Longsuffering…”  (Galatians 5:22)

“And Simon Peter answered and said…”  (Matthew 16:16)

“…James and John…said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?”  (Luke’s Gospel)

“Then saith…Judas Iscaiot, Why was not this ointment sold for (300) three hundred pence, and given to the poor?  (John 12:5)

 

The Lord’s (12) twelve disciples were men living in close quarters; are we not to think they, at times, annoyed each other? Peter was a talker, no doubt. Peter was usually the man to answer for the other (11) eleven and could that not get irritating? Then there is James and John, both with a superiority complex. And there was Judas, always counting the money. Nathaniel, thinking himself better than those in Nazareth.

My point is this, Those bless-ed persons, who annoy us are gifts from God. These pple, if you will, are the very one’s that will make us Christ-like. These are they that will bring out the Spirit’s fruit of longsuffering. Longsuffering is a godly trait, for the Word states, God’s “longsuffering is salvation.”

What does longsuffering mean? Longsuffering is putting up with that which we would rather not put up with. Longsuffering is putting up with pple. However, it is putting up with people and doing so with and in the right spirit.

We know a man that has had clients and co-workers bold face lie about him and against him. This man has been, time and time again, set up to fail by co-workers but it all came to nought as “no weapon formed against [me] shall prosper.” And what is more formidable as a weapon than a human mind and a human tongue with ill intent, motivated by sin?

All of this comes down to one’s perspective. Is that bothersome person an irritant or a blessing? All of the troublesome, annoying, irritating persons in your life are there to help you become more and more Christ-like.

Imagine what God puts up with…….with you.