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Patience, the mark of those who are truly faithful
LELAND ACKER
We're continuing our discussion on running the race

from Hebrews 12:1-2. We have defined running the race as living to know Christ better and to grow closer to Him.

Christians should run this race because we have a deep heritage rooted in faith (Hebrews 12:1). We can be successful running the race if we lay aside every weight (memories, prior achievements and emotional baggage) and the sin that we so easily get caught up in.

We will wrap up this series this week and next as we learn how to run the race.

Hebrews 12:1 says we are to "run with patience the race that is set before us."

God wants us to run this race with patience. Patience is defined as the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset. Patience is the key ingredient to the successful Christian life.

Delays, troubles and sufferings will come as one tries to lead a Christian life. You will sin. People will persecute you. Bad things will happen to you.

The bank account balance will decrease, gas prices will increase and you will struggle to maintain the standard of living you enjoy now.

What separates the successful Christian from the unsuccessful Christian is how you deal with adversity.

Those who have emotional breakdowns, who forsake the assembly, or give up trying fail because they have either quit running, or they have not run with patience.

So, the question becomes, "How do we get patience, so that we won't fail in our Christian races?"

Biblically, there are two ways to obtain patience. Romans 5:3 teaches that tribulations (troubles, trials, hard times) build patience, as we learn from those experiences and grow from them.

The other way is to develop it as you grow in your Christian life.

II Peter 1:5-6 says that we should add to our faith (our trust in God and Savior Jesus Christ), virtue (high moral standards). We are to add to our virtue knowledge and to our knowledge temperance (abstinence from alcohol or moderation in regard to food and drink). To our temperance, we add patience.

Basically, as we grow in Christ, our patience should grow as well. This is why I have a hard time taking seriously those who profess to be Godly people, but can't control their temper. This is also why I believe some of the greatest damage to the cause of Christ happens in restaurants after Sunday morning services.

Imagine being a server in a restaurant flooded with customers at lunchtime on Sunday. Imagine how you would feel if most of those customers were rude, frustrated, pushy and did not tip well. What would your impression of God's people be? Most servers will tell you that Sundays are lousy tip days.

Patience is the mark of a mature Christian. Impatience marks immature Christians, or hypocrites, whichever the case may be.

Next week, we'll finish the race by looking to our finish line. In the meantime... have patience. chreporter@mediactr.com