“And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.”
Genesis 6:6
One of the fruit of the Holy Spirit is “Long Suffering”.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, LONGSUFFERING, gentleness, goodness, faith.. Galatians 5:22-23
I always wondered what does it mean and why is it at all the fruit of the Holy Spirit?
We see right from the garden of Eden where the first man and women sinned against God, it goes on and on till the time of Noah when finally, God said,” My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh”. (Genesis 6:3) God saw His people willfully sinning and rebelling, doing all that was sin and God’s Spirit grieved and He was longing for the love and reverence from His people. He got disappointed from the sin of Adam, till the time of Noah, thousands of years, God was waiting for His children to repent and to come in line with His purpose. When He created the World, it took Him only 6 days, but we see when the flood came upon earth, it took 40 days to cover the earth with water and only after further 150 days, the water started receding. God could have done it in a single day but he himself chose to suffer during all those days. His suffering hasn’t ended yet. Since the creation came into existence till the crucifixion of His son Lord Jesus Christ, God suffered and has been suffering.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
John 3:16
In the ailing and tormented body of Christ on the cross, God punished our sins and
He Himself took part in those sufferings by sending His own son to die on the Cross.
“ He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all.”
Romans 8:32
It’s the time to acknowledge that if we are being blamed, persecuted, put into hardship, trials (“count it all joy when you fall into various temptations” James 1:2) and don’t cry to the Lord, Oh Lord! How long? Remember God is also suffering with us and He will not let us suffer beyond our endurance. (1 Corinthians 10:13)
“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. “
2 Peter 3:9
Needless to say, like every faithful Christian, I have been suffering since the time I came to the saving knowledge of Lord Jesus Christ. I was persecuted in my 1st church mentally, emotionally and physically but forgiving everyone, I am just holding on to God and patiently waiting on Him because He has said in John 16:20,” your mourning will turn into joy”
Prayer
Lord! give us your grace in our affliction and suffering, let patience has it perfect work in us and we don’t waiver in following the path that you have shown through your Son Lord Jesus Christ! In Jesus name, I pray.
Amen
Sol.Neha