November 15, 2022 -- Ephesians 4:1-5 -- Anchored to Jesus living out loud patience for Jesus

People loved by the Father, by the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
Ephesians 4:1-5 ESV

Look at where Paul is as he writes the Ephesians, yes, in prison! Yet the tone of his writing is kind, the words are encouraging the readers to trust in God all the more and he is calling for them to exercise patience. There is a silly saying “don’t pray for patience because it only comes through trials”. What a load of nonsense. Jesus promised His followers will have trials and will suffer. Here is the glorious promise of God's word: He will use these circumstances to cause His followers to grow in patient endurance.

Impatience is something familiar to all, with as many of you have been on the receiving end of a company’s customer service rep who was irritable, giving curt answers to your genuine questions. Look at the context of the word patience in Ephesians 4. Patience keeps the bond of unity forged among believers by the Spirit’s presence. Impatience jars true community. Impatience is rude and self-seeking. Impatience is condescending.

When you are facing illness, rather than just praying to be healed, ask God for the patience to endure this illness so that it can have its full effect on your life. Perhaps your patience endurance will bless doctors and specialists. The LORD is in charge in every circumstance and in all of life's challenges. It is the Spirit Who enables the true followers of Jesus Christ, to patient in every affliction so that the world sees the reflected glory of Almighty God in their lives.

Blessed God,
Ten thousand snares are mine without and within,
defend thou me;
When sloth and indolence seize me,
give me views of heaven;
When sinners entice me,give me disrelish of their ways;
When sensual pleasures tempt me,purify and refine me;
When I desire worldly possessions, help me to be rich toward thee;
When the vanities of the world ensnare me,
let me not plunge into new guilt and ruin.
May I remember the dignity of my spiritual release,
never be too busy to attend to my soul,
never be so engrossed with time that I neglect the things of eternity;
thus may I not only live,
but grow towards thee.
Form my mind to right notions of religion,
that I may not judge of grace by wrong conceptions,
nor measure my spiritual advances by the efforts of my natural being.
May I seek after an increase of divine love to thee,
after unreserved resignation to thy will,
after extensive benevolence to my fellow creatures,
after patience and fortitude of soul,
after a heavenly disposition after a concern that
I may please thee in public
and private.
Draw on my soul the lineaments of Christ,
in every trace and feature of which thou wilt take delight,
for I am thy workmanship, created in Christ Jesus,
thy letter written with the Holy Spirit’s pen,
thy tilled soil ready for the sowing,
then harvest.
Valley of Vision: Puritan Prayers and Devotions: A Christian's Prayer

https://youtu.be/N4xZIkOnJU4
Oh, for a Closer Walk with God; Stuart Townsend

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