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The Amish Voice 4
4. There is the fruit of longsuffering: patience, bearing and
suffering a long time, perseverance, being constant,
steadfast, and enduring. Long-suffering never gives in; it is
never broken no matter what attacks it.
Pressure and hard work may fall upon us, but the Spirit
of God helps us suffer long under it all.
Disease or accident or old age may afflict us, but the
Spirit of God helps us to suffer long under it.
Discouragement and disappointment may attack us, but
the Spirit of God helps us to suffer long under it.
Men may do us wrong, abuse, slander, and injure us;
but the Spirit of God helps us to suffer long under it all.
Two significant things need to be noted about
longsuffering.
a. Longsuffering never strikes back. Common sense tells
us that a person who is attacked by others could strike
back and retaliate. But the Christian believer is given
the power of longsuffering—the power to suffer the
situation or person for a long, long time.
b. Longsuffering is one of the great traits of God. As
pointed out in this verse, it is a fruit of God’s very
own Spirit, a fruit that is to be in the life of the
believer.
God and Christ are longsuffering toward sinners.
“Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and
forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that
the goodness of God leadeth thee to
repentance?” (Romans 2:4).
God saves believers so that they may be examples of
longsuffering.
“Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in
me first Jesus Christ might show forth all
longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should
hereafter believe on him to life everlasting” (1
Ti.1:16).
God withholds His judgment from the world because
He is longsuffering, waiting for more and more to be
saved.
“And account that the longsuffering of our Lord
is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also
according to the wisdom given unto him hath
written unto you” (2 Pe. 3:9; see 1 Pe. 4:20).
William Barclay says that if God had been a man, He would
have long ago wiped man off the face of the earth because
of his terrible disobedience. But God loves and cares for
man; therefore, God is longsuffering toward man. God is
suffering a long, long time with man, allowing more and
more men to be saved.
“Strengthened with all might, according to his
glorious power, unto all patience and long-
suffering with joyfulness” (Col. 1:11).
5. There is the fruit of gentleness: it is being kind and good,
useful and helpful, gentle and sweet, considerate and
gracious through all situations no matter the circumstances.
A person who is gentle does not act...
Gentleness cares for the feelings of others and feels with them.
It experiences the full depth of sympathy and empathy. It
shows care and gets right into the situation with a person.
Gentleness suffers with those who suffer, and struggles with
those who struggle, and works with those who work.
God is kind.
“But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend,
hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall
be great, and ye shall be the children of the
Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to
the evil” (Lk.6:35).
Believers are to be kind to one another.
“Be kindly affectioned one to another with
brotherly love; in honour preferring one
another” (Ro.12:10).
6. There is the fruit of goodness: it is being full of virtue and
QUESTIONS:
What makes the fruit of longsuffering such an im-
portant possession for the believer?
Do you know anyone who has mastered longsuffering
as a part of his or her nature? What kinds of things can
you glean from his or her example?
hard
indifferent
harsh
unconcerned
too busy
bitter
QUESTIONS:
In what ways does “joy” affect how you live? If joy
were not a part of your life, what would replace it?
What is the “fruit of peace”?
Why is the world unable to duplicate God’s peace?