by Rev. M. MacInnes, Ullapool
4. LONGSUFFERING
As we continue to look at the fruits of the Spirit, let us remember that the work of the Spirit is to apply Christ’s benefits to believers, to make them like unto Jesus Christ. This answers to the desire of grace here, and to its hope for eternity. “We shall be like Him for we shall see Him as He is” 1 John 3:2. If it is not our wish to be conformed to the image of Christ, the Firstborn among many brethren, we are at variance with the declared purpose of God. It is by our fruit we are to be known, and we dare not excuse ourselves for lack of fruitfulness on account of circumstances. Let us consider Him who bore such contradiction of sinners against Himself and who was fruitful in every good work doing the will of God and of His Father.
The fruit of the Spirit at which we are now to look is “long-suffering.” Our first look at the word indicates to us that it means “patiently bearing provocation,” implying patience in what is good under opposition from what is bad. “If when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.” 1 Peter 2:20. The supreme example of longsuffering is to be found in God Himself. He “bears patiently” with sinners in the face of much provocation. “With us He dealt not as we sinned.” Ps. 103:10. God’s longsuffering toward mankind was shown in that Adam was spared after he had sinned in the Garden of Eden. God exercised justice but withheld the full sentence. Adam became spiritually dead and was put out from the Garden. Judgment was mingled with mercy, because God revealed the coming of the “seed of the woman” who should bruise the head of the devil, the enemy of God and man, and He provided coats of skin for Adam and Eve. The Bible contains many such evidences of His longsuffering. Such were the words of the Lord to Moses, Exodus 34:6, “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth.” Longsuffering is that in which God is rich. However, in this connection, a question is put to us—”Despisest thou the riches of his goodness, and forbearance and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?” There is the strong possibility of our drawing wrong conclusions from God’s dealings with us in this respect. “Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.” Ecclesiastes 8:11. The longsuffering of God affords us time to seek Him, and we deceive ourselves when we take licence to continue in sin and hardness of heart. His longsuffering will come to an end in the experience of the impenitent, for except we repent we shall perish. Such cases are illustrated in the Bible. “The longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing.” When the ark was completed, and the eight persons to be saved from the flood safely within, the Lord destroyed the remainder of the human race. The same truth is to be seen with regard to the barren tree spoken of in Luke 13:7, “Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it; and if it bears fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.” The Lord in His longsuffering is dealing with us in Gospel ordinances that we might be fruitful, and as the divine husbandman, waits for the precious fruit of the earth, having long patience for it. Take heed, lest He say concerning you, as one who is unfruitful, “thou shalt cut it down” v.9. The purpose of His longsuffering is that He might be glorified in our coming to live unto Him, as vessels of mercy. He endures with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He has afore prepared unto glory.
As God’s revelation of Himself, for man’s salvation, is in Jesus Christ, we justly expect to see the riches of longsuffering in the Person and work of the Son of God. When on earth, as Mediator, He met with much of the sinfulness of men, but patiently endured unto the fulfilling of the work given to Him. He condemned sin, but gave instruction in the way of deliverance through mercy. “I obtained mercy” said Paul, “that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering.” Hence the longsuffering of Jesus is demonstrated not only in the time of His humiliation, but also in the work He accomplishes in the experience of others. He deals patiently with His people, leading them gently, and instructing them “here a little, and there a little.” No other master would deal so patiently with servants as Jesus does with His people. They provoke Him, they backslide—but He corrects, He chastens. How dear they are to His heart, because He calls them no more servants but friends. “Henceforth, I call you not servants….but I have called you friends.” John 15:15.
The call, to be like unto Jesus Christ, has become effectual in those that believe. The grace of longsuffering seen in Christ must be in those who believe in His name. They receive ‘grace for grace,’ and are imperfect in whatever measure they lack likeness to Jesus. Believers are called to the exercise of longsuffering. It is not something optional. They are chosen to it in election and called to it by God’s grace. “Put on, therefore, as the elect of God, longsuffering.” Col. 3:12. It is to be exercised with regard to our fellow-creatures. We do not need longsuffering with regard to God, because He is holy and perfect in Himself and in all His action. Toward God we are to have absolute submission and delight in all His will. The opposition to grace and godliness is from the creature. The Scripture exhorts to “longsuffering, forbearing one another in love.” Ephes. 4:2. It is in the midst of tribulation and persecution that longsuffering is especially needed. Believers are to be “patient in tribulation,” not rendering evil for evil (Romans 12:12-21). A time of tribulation and of persecution can become a time fruitful with blessings, because God can fulfil spiritually in His people what we read concerning the Israelites in Egypt under the heavy hand of Pharaoh: “But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew.” Exodus 1:12. Indeed, such is the grace of longsuffering that opposition is necessary to its being manifest. It is in the midst of tribulation that the power of Christ may appear all the more on us, in this respect, being “strengthened unto longsuffering.” Col. 1:11. It is not weakness of character—it is strength of grace. Often “lack of longsuffering” is mistaken for greater grace, while the Holy Spirit shows us that it might be to the contrary. Longsuffering is a gracious, God-wrought, God-sustained composure and control in the way of good when one is meeting with provocation. We must also beware of developing a “persecution complex,” thinking that all is against us. There is the danger that we begin to rest in our troubles and not in the work and power of Christ, the Deliverer. We are to have “longsuffering with joyfulness.” Advice was given by an elderly Christian to one of the following generation, and so to us—”Whatever you do, keep a bright face to the world.” It is told of William MacBeth, who was a cheerful Christian, that he was once asked, “Surely you have your own troubles?” To this he replied: “What is the good of telling your troubles to those who cannot help you?” Longsuffering will keep us waiting at God’s throne for help, strength and deliverance, that our light might shine before men.
It must become a matter of prayer with you that you may be blessed by God to the exercise of this grace. The examples given in the Bible are to this effect. “We cease not to pray for you…that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will…. that ye might walk worthy of the Lord, …being fruitful…. strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness.” Col. 1:9-11. This will result in a loving and patient disposition toward friend and foe, while we pray for God’s glory in their salvation. “Pray for them that despitefully use you, and persecute you…” Matth. 5:44.
He that will let a sinner go down to hell for want of speaking to him, doth set less by souls than did the Redeemer of souls; and less by his neighbour than common charity will allow him to do to his greatest enemy.
Baxter