Patience

The Christian and the virtue of patience:

Ro 15:5, 2 Thess 3:5 God is a God of patience. He demonstrated this over and over with the Israelites in the Old Testament, he also demonstrated this in Christ's life on earth and death on the cross. The Christian is called to imitate this virtue Galatians 5:22, 2 Cor 6:4, 1 Thess 5:14..

The connection of patience with tribulation:
There is a direct relationship here for it is through trials that we gain patience (Ro 5:3, James 1:3) and it is also in trials that we are called to demonstrate patience (2 Thess 1:4, Ro 12:12)

The motivation for patience:
As Christians there is great motivation to be patient not only in our desire to imitate and obey God in this virtue but also because of the source of hope we have in Christ. We are able to wait because we know there is something good coming ( Ro 5:4, 15:4, 1 Thess 1:3). I find this to be true in my own life for when I am waiting and displaying some level of patience, I find a sense of anticipation (hope) arising in me.

Patience made possible through faith: Through faith and patience we inherit the promises of God (Rev 13:10, Heb 6:12, 2 Pe 1:6, Jam 5:7). The Israelites received the promised land and we will receive the heavenly kingdom. How can we have patience if we do not have faith. It is only through a real/solid belief that there is something beyond the here and now that enables us to wait. Of all people then Christians should have reason to display patience because they know that the real rewards are not here on earth. Even in our earthly lives knowing God and hearing his voice requires patience as echoed many time sin the Psalms ( Ps 37:7). If we believe that God is actively involved in the here and now we can wait for his will to be done and our answer to come.

Conclusions: Patience is a definite distinctive mark of the Christian life, and we learn it through trials and faith in the God who will bring us through them, onward and upward into that which is worth waiting our whole lives for.