The Word of God Is AliveSample

When I was eight, I went to the store with my granddad and saw the most amazing scooter. I begged my granddad for it. He let me ride it around the aisle and even asked me what color I liked. I was sure we would take it to the front, pay for it, and I would ride my new scooter out of the store. Then he said, “Well, it looks like you like it. Let’s wait two days; if you still want it, we will come back and get it.” Wait two days!!! That seemed like FOREVER!

We live in an instant gratification world, and waiting is not easy. We have phones that have instant access to the internet, Amazon Prime, which sometimes delivers same day, fast food that comes out in minutes, and so much more. As I look back on that day, I know my wise granddad was teaching me a crucial lesson: patience.

Being impatient can breed unpleasant things such as compromise, anxiety, discontentment, and anger. In Ephesians, Paul urges us to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. (v. 1-2) God has given YOU a calling, and you cannot live a life worthy of the calling if, through impatience, you compromise; you can’t live out your calling if you are crippled with anxiety or anger. So slow down and listen so, like Paul, we can become more like Jesus through patience, loving one another in unity and peace.

Do you struggle with impatience? What two things can you start today that can bring you closer to living a life worthy of the calling God has put on your life and one that models after Christ?