DCLM Sincere Milk 21 October 2023 — The Fruit Bearing Life, Part 4 – Longsuffering
DCLM Sincere Milk 21 October 2023 Devotional by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — The Fruit Bearing Life, Part 4 – Longsuffering
Topic: The Fruit Bearing Life, Part 4 – Longsuffering
Text: Galatians 5:22,23
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Key Verse: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,” Galatians 5:22
Message
Danny got back from school very hungry and tired. His mom told him to exercise a little patience, go take a shower as she gets the food ready. Danny felt that would take some time. He quickly took a part of the food from the pot and got his tongue burnt. He could not even eat the food thereafter because of the sore in his mouth. Danny could not endure a little discomfort of hunger. He lacked an important virtue referred to as longsuffering. This virtue is also known as self-control.
If we do not have self-control, we become slaves to what controls us. It can be food, games, gist, chatting with friends or sleeping too much that you don’t want to wake up early enough for personal prayers or devotions. Jesus, our perfect example, demonstrated longsuffering when He endured suffering in order to save us from sin. We can look to Jesus and pray to be more like Him in every way including the ability to suffer long, be patient and endure hardship for His sake.
Further Reading: Hebrews 12:1
Prayer for today: Lord, please give me the grace to endure all things for your sake.
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
