Patience GOD's Perfect Work
At this point in the climbing process sanctification it is
essential to remember that this is a total work of faith. It is only as we do our part recognizing the obstructions and hindering
factors, then realizing that we cannot remove them ourselves--that we exercise the power of the will and choose to be free from
these encumbrances.
Only then can God do His work in us. He will never force the will but waits for us to use it to permit Him
to remove these. We have just discovered that if this work is done at all He will have to do it. Remember, we have not the
wisdom or the strength to overcome evil. This must be kept clearly in mind as we face each step.
Peter says, Add . . . to temperance patience . . . 2 Peter 1:16. The most precious fruit of sanctification is the grace of meekness. A quick look in Webster's Collegiate Dictionary will convince anyone of the close relationship of patience and meekness.
Without doubt, God was able to develop this trait of His character in Moses more perfectly than in any other human being.
However, even in him one failure, even though he was forgiven, prevented God from being able to fulfill His plans for Moses life here on this earth. We see here a perfect blend of Gods justice and mercy. Genuine sanctification . . . is nothing less than a daily dying to self and daily conformity to the will of God.
This principle of sanctification strikes right at the very root of the problem of this step of patience, for the greatest hindering factor is pride. We have heard of impetuous Peter the man who always spoke and acted before he thought.
The evil that led to that led to Perter's fall and that shut out the Pharisee from communion with God is providing the ruin
of thousands today. There is nothing so offensive to God or so dangerous to the human soul as pride and self-sufficiency. Of all sins, it is the most hopeless, and the most incurable.
Pride and self-sufficiency work on the human mind exactly opposite to humility and self-surrender. This is why when we try to control ourselves and fail, we try harder the next time. All human effort expended to be patient will never produce the fruit of patience.
A strong enough motivation may produce an appearance of patience salesmen often do this. Customers may be completely fooled, for the public image is often quite different from what one is at home. Our problem seems to be that pride takes the way of expediency. It can appear to be humble, teachable, calm, even patient.
Some of us have a nervous temperament, and are naturally as quick as a flash to think and act; but let no one think that he cannot learn to become patient. Patience is a plant that will make rapid growth if carefully cultivated.
"Remember, only we can change our evil behavior."
"And He gives us the power to do so."
"Remember, only we can change our evil behavior."
"And He gives us the power to do so."
Author: FRANK B. PHILLIPS.