Fighting The Good FightSample

Hope-Infused Patience  

Patience is the universal tie that binds all elements of perseverance together, whether we’re talking about our salvation, obedience to Jesus’ commands, or the purposes of God in our suffering. The Apostle Paul says that even the whole of creation has an element of future hope in the revelation of the sons of God, because created order began to die when God’s image bearers sinned. When His image bearers are restored, so shall created order be restored.

In Romans 8:18-25, Paul emphasizes that although those who are His have been adopted and are redeemed, there is a Day coming when the adoption is fully realized and the redemption of humankind is complete. Paul wants us to understand that persevering patience is produced by the hope of that Day. In other words, when I am struggling to be patient, I am disconnected from the hope of the redemption of my body. He communicates the futility of hoping in what we can see—conveying that hope is a part of faith in the goodness and faithfulness of God who keeps His promises. “But if we hope in what we do not see, we wait for it with patience” (v. 25). Patience in all things is therefore the key to perseverance and fighting the good fight, and patience is realized through the revelation of hoping in things to come. This produces in us a resolve of persevering faith in things unseen.

Lord, thank You for the things we cannot see and for the faith You’ve given us to believe for them. Your return is our blessed hope, and being with You is our exceedingly great reward. Thank You that You are conforming us into Your image. Grant us grace to fight the good fight and finish the race.