Colossians 3:12-13; Romans 12:14-21

 What Patience Is: “Clothe yourselves with… patience.  Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you (Col 3:12).”

Two related convictions that change the way we deal with difficult people

Conviction #1: God is patient with troubling people –

One of the ways that people will see that you truly are a follower of Jesus indwelt by his Spirit is that you will grow in your patience with troubling people – because God is patient with you!

Conviction #2: Evil cannot be overcome by evil –

PICTURE - The dog with treat on nose pic

What Patience Looks Like

Directive 1: Pray God’s Blessing on Them --Bless those who persecute you… (v.14)

It’s hard to continue to hate people when you’re praying for them

Directive 2: Get Into Their Shoes – Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn (v.15).

PICTURE “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view... Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it. “

                                                                        Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

                                                                        Romans 12:18

Directive 3: Treat Them As Fellow Human Beings -- Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited (12:16).

“This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive others from your heart.”

                                                                        Jesus, Matthew 18:35

Directive 4: Act On Their Behalf -- If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink… (12:20a).

PICTURE - Nelson Mandela pic and quote

Directive 5: Stop the Harm But Let God Judge – “Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath...” In doing good for your enemy, “you will heap burning coals on his head (12:19-20).”

The Bible doesn’t teach us to ignore abuse or injustice but to use whatever God has given us to stop it. At the same time, our goal as individuals should never be to harm the enemy but always to stop the evil.

“Leave room for God’s wrath.”

                                                Romans 12:19

In summary: Don’t offend people before blessing them. Don’t act before willing their good. Always offer a path toward reconciliation and relationship. Love your enemies as Jesus did.

How Patience Grows -- …in view of God’s mercy… (Rom 12:1)