Daily Bread - MAR/23/07

Colossians 1:11 - In all power strengthened according to his glorious might unto all enduring patience and forbearance with joy.

There are three attitudes that are named in this verse of scripture: patience, forbearance, and joy. These three attitudes are obviously very important to God and to our spiritual success. Therefore, God has given us His power so that we may be strengthened with His glorious might in order to maintain this disposition. The importance of these characteristics demands a closer look at the actual and practical meaning of these words.

The Greek word that is used for patience (hupomone) means patience, endurance, fortitude, steadfastness, perseverance, and expectation (BDAG). One of many things that are being described is a relentless commitment to a course of action no matter what difficulties are presented. When we know that God has already planned our success and that the test is essential to being trained to handle that success then we can look up and see beyond the difficulties that we encounter. God is so devoted to us that He provides us with His own supernatural strength to bear up under these pressures. We are talking about something on the level of a defiant perseverance that holds up under every sort of delayed results of aggressive misfortune. This same word is used in the Septuagint about 25 times to which Psalms 62:5 captures the true essence of this word. The Psalmist commands his soul as to how it will behave: "My soul, you wait upon God; for my expectation (hupomone) is from Him".

The characteristic that is expressed in the next Greek word which we usually translate longsuffering (makrothumia) is somewhat similar. This Greek word is considered a synonym to the Greek word for patience. However, there are some unique qualities to this word that demands our attention. This word not only includes patience, steadfastness, endurance but also forbearance and tolerance or self-control in the face of provocation (BDAG). Forbearance is the ability to maintain an emotional quietness in the face of opposing circumstances. Many times it is because of our outburst of self-defense and emotional hurt that we create problems for ourselves and the ones that we love. Our Heavenly Father has modeled forbearance for us in the way that He deals with the wickedness of man in the face of His unfailing love. God does not pour out His just wrath upon the transgressors but instead forgives and saves. In Isaiah 57:15 this Greek word is used in such a way as to help us understand both the nature of forbearance and what God will do for those who walk in it "For this is what the High and the Lofty One says that inhabits eternity whose name is Holy, I dwell in the high and holy place with him also of a contrite and humble spirit to revive the spirit of the humble (makrothumia) and to revive the heart of the contrite ones."

Blessings,

Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
abidingplace.org