Bible Study Love: Patience With God

The following devotional and Bible Study assignment was taken from our Online Christian Mom Bible Study Group. You can sign up to become a member of the CSAHM Club and gain access to our complete Bible Study on Love. Click here for more information on the Online Bible Study Group for Moms!

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“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” James 1:2-4 (NKJV

Why didn’t God make everything in one day? Why did it take 7 days to create the heavens and the earth, animals, plants, and man? He could have created everything all at once, but He didn’t. Why?

“The servant therefore fell down before Him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ ” Matthew 18:26 (NKJV)

What if God weren’t a patient God? How many of us would be saved? Where would we be without God’s salvation?

“But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.” Luke 8:15 (NKJV)

Being patient with God is a difficult task, simply because it requires trust. Trust that God is who He says He is and will do the things He promises to do. It also requires faith. Faith that your prayers will be answered, and your trust in God will bear fruit in your life!

With patience we need to have faith, and trust the things we cannot see.

“By your patience posses your souls.” Luke 21:19 (NKJV)

Definition of posses: To cause to be influenced or controlled, as by an idea or emotion.

Our first reaction to everything should be patience. Sometimes we need to just stop and think before we speak or act.

“For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus,” Romans 15:4-5 (NKJV)

Most of us, myself included, don’t really grasp that taking your time to move through this life is really what needs to be done. To often we cry out to the Lord, begging Him to “do something” right now, when in all reality solving the problem immediately may not be the answer.

It took God 7 days to create the earth and everything that lives in the earth. He knows that life takes time, and we are here according to His time frame, and according to His purpose.

So much learning is achieved in those difficult times. Lest we forget this life is not about our wants and desires. The Lord has a plan and a purpose for each and every one of us that was so important to Him, God was willing to sacrifice His son in order to fulfill that purpose, to fulfill His plan!

We will never receive all that God has created for us if we lose our patience with Him. Yes, it takes trust and faith, but God is faithful. He is trustworthy. Becoming all that He created us to be is counting on our patience with Him.

God doesn’t ask of us anything He himself hasn’t already provided. God is patient with us. He has been patient since the beginning of time!

“My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience.” James 5:10 (NKJV)

Assignment:

Read Hebrews 6:11-12. What does God call us to do through our trials? How long are we to do this?

Click here for more information on the Online Bible Study Group for Moms!

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February 4, 2010 | Filed Under Bible Study, Recent Posts | 1 Comment

Bible Study Love: Endures All Things

The following devotional and Bible Study assignment was taken from our Online Christian Mom Bible Study Group. You can sign up to become a member of the CSAHM Club and gain access to our complete 30 Day Bible Study on Love. Click here for more information on the Online Bible Study Group for Moms!

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“bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. ” [b]1 Corinthians 13:7[/b] (NKJV)

Endure – to undergo (as a hardship) especially without giving in: Suffer

If I had to tell you how many times I have failed in my relationships, including my relationship with God, I would tell you it is too many to count.

Often in our relationships we get disappointed by others actions. We are all human, we all fail. We all have these expectations on everyone, including God, that also help in making us feel like a relationship has failed and we are disappointed.

But a lot of times we don’t realize that this life is about endurance. The most meaningful relationships are the ones that endured so many trials, pains and hurts.

When we love like Jesus we are less likely to run away from the situation, and instead endure through the trials and the pain.

Jesus’ love was about enduring pain. He knew before His death what pain He was going to endure, and He walked into it without a fight.

To often we are afraid of experiencing pain, and guard our hearts to real everlasting love. Simply because we are afraid of getting hurt again.

Jesus never guarded Himself from the pain He was going to endure, because he knew that love endures all things.

If we aren’t willing to endure through life then we may be missing out on all that God has to offer.

Assignment:

Journal your answers to the following: What is God asking you to endure? How can we show our love to God? Do we love God enough to endure through life, in order to fulfill His purpose, or do we just give up?