Quiet Time: Patient Endurance

Patient Endurance

Strength to be still

For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God – 1 Peter 2:20

When a person is penalized, whether it be financially or physically, for a poor decision or an outright sin, we say, “He got what he deserved.”  Sometimes the person is penitent and humbled, but  regardless of his attitude, society considers it reasonable that he take his punishment without complaint.  But what about the times when a person gets what he doesn’t deserve; when life just doesn’t seem fair?

Well, the world’s answer is to say, “That’s just the way it is; some things will never change,” to quote Stevie Winwood. But, God tells the Christian, “There’s a better way; patient endurance.”  There seems to be something about quietly standing firm in Him when we are treated unfairly; when we believe with quiet confidence that our God is in control, regardless of the circumstances. This attitude actually seems to make Him smile. 

I like the way this verse reads in The Message bible: “There’s no particular virtue in accepting punishment that you well deserve. But if you’re treated badly for good behavior and continue in spite of it to be a good servant, that is what counts with God.”

Jesus did just that; He is our example. Jesus got what I deserved. (1Peter 2:21)

Song Series: The Stand

The Stand

Read: Romans 5

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. – Romans 5:1-2

All have sinned and have been found guilty in God’s court. However, Jesus covers the believer’s guilt with His innocence and he is found justifiably not guilty. Before believing on the Lord Jesus Christ, we were enemies of God but now we are at peace with Him through Jesus and the work he accomplished on the cross. In other words, the just reward for our sins, “death”, has been remitted and our punishment is eternally satisfied by the punishment Christ received on the cross. From the day of our salvation to eternity we stand in this grace.

Furthermore, we can’t make God love or even like us any more than He now does. We aren’t saved by grace and perfected by good works. We don’t have to prove we’re worthy. Believers are worthy because Christ is worthy. As one theologian puts it, “The score sheet is gone and the account is settled.” Obviously we can’t brag about our salvation as if it’s something we acquired through hard work. No, we boast in Jesus and Him alone, through songs of praise and worship and lives that bring Him glory.

Michael W. Smith says "Stand is a call to stand up for what you believe in." It's a call to stand in awe of the One who gave all and to stand outside of the walls of the church rubbing shoulders with the lost. Together, we stand as followers of Jesus sharing a powerful opportunity: To live as a child of God. We must live as though we believe we are loved," he says. "It's time we take a stand believing we are loved," Smith concludes. "And then, let's go. Let's go change the world."

Thanks to God's grace we were: guilty, but now, we are innocent, God’s foes, but now are God’s friends. fallen, but now, we stand.

Won't you help someone else to stand? Introduce them to Jesus today.

“The Stand," written by Joel Houston of Hillsong and recorded by Michael W. Smith on his album Stand.

So I’ll stand with arms high and heart abandoned

In awe of the One Who gave it all

I’ll stand my soul Lord to You surrendered

All I am is Yours.