Welcome to another day the Lord has made that we should rejoice and be glad in. (Psalms 118:24)

Let’s pause and consider the longsuffering of God with us.

Today’s scripture, Psalms 103:8-10 (NLT) testifies…
[8] The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. [9] He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever. [10] He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.

Consider…
I have written about the foolishness of people wanting God’s justice and fairness. I say that because Romans 6:23 (NLT) explains…
[23] For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

The only thing humans have earned is death for sin. That’s because Romans 5:12 (NLT) explains…
[12] When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned.

To be clear, Adam may have ushered it in, but each and everyone is responsible for our own sin. That’s why Romans 3:23 (NLT) declares…
[23] For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.

I cited those facts, because I don’t think we understand the longsuffering element embedded in God’s endless mercy and unfailing love. Said another way, I don’t think we fully appreciate how much God puts up with us.

Many of us have a “short fuse” and low tolerance for others. We’re the opposite of God, quick to get mad, and determined to get even when someone offends us.

Thankfully, today’s scripture describes a God who is longsuffering towards us.

To better understand the longsuffering nature of God, the Holy Spirit led me to 2 Peter 3:9 (NLT), which explains…
[9] The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.

There it is, the Lord is waiting on us. Let that marinate…

I envision a parent with a toddler who has learned to walk, but if course can’t keep up, yet are determined to walk on their own. That parent, like God, patiently keeps the baby in eyeshot, and waits for the child to reach them before moving forward.

Speaking of toddlers, I think of their defiant nature, bent on doing things their way. Those thoughts remind me of Ephesians 2:1-5 (NLT), which says…
[1] Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. [2] You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. [3] All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else. [4] But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, [5] that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)

Notice, we were defiant, deserving of God’s wrath, yet He was determined to love us anyway.

That statement brings 2 Timothy 2:13 (NLT), which testifies…
[13] If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is.

We should pause and thank God that His faithfulness depends on Him, not us. We should also consider, our faithfulness must depend on Him too.

This emphasis the faith component of longsuffering, reminds me of Matthew 17:14-20 (NLT), which shares…
[14] At the foot of the mountain, a large crowd was waiting for them. A man came and knelt before Jesus and said, [15] “Lord, have mercy on my son. He has seizures and suffers terribly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. [16] So I brought him to your disciples, but they couldn’t heal him.” [17] Jesus said, “You faithless and corrupt people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.” [18] Then Jesus rebuked the demon in the boy, and it left him. From that moment the boy was well. [19] Afterward the disciples asked Jesus privately, “Why couldn’t we cast out that demon?” [20] “You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.”

Notice Jesus expressed exasperation about the faithless corrupt people. The Holy Spirit showed me, don’t conflate God’s patience with unlimited or excused understanding. By this I mean, we don’t get to keep repeating I’m only human, God understands. No, just like Jesus said in the passage, God sometimes says, “How long must I put up with you?”

The Apostle Paul explained it this way in Romans 6:1-2 (NLT)…
[1] Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? [2] Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it?

God gives us grace to overcome sin, not test Him.

Yet, despite all of these convictions about our faithlessness and unfaithfulness, we still read in today’s scripture…
[8] The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. [9] He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever. [10] He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.

Regardless of Jesus’ exasperation, He endured the cross for our salvation. In Hebrews 12:2-4 (NLT) we’re told to be inspired by Jesus’ endurance…
[2] We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. [3] Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. [4] After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.

Recognize, God put up with us, for us. 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NLT)…
[21] For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

In the past when I read that verse I thought about it being an instantaneous moment, however recall, Jesus was born, lived 33 years, and died. This is emphasized in Philippians 2:7-8 (NLT), which testifies…
[7] Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, [8] he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

I humbly submit Jesus longsuffered before His death. For example Luke 9:58 (NLT) shares…
[58] But Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.”

I wonder if we ever consider the fact Jesus would have appeared homeless to most of us?

In fact the Holy Spirit reminded me that Jesus told us in John 15:18 (NLT)…
[18] “If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first.

Jesus loved a world who hated Him! That sounds like a longsuffering experience.

But more than all of that, appreciate Jesus lived knowing He had to die. Like Jesus said in Matthew 20:28 (NLT)…
[28] For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

I can’t imagine the mental anguish of knowing your purpose for living is painfully dying as a ransom for sin you didn’t commit.

John 12:23-27 (NLT) gives us a glimpse to Jesus’ terminal awareness…
[23] Jesus replied, “Now the time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory. [24] I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives. [25] Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity. [26] Anyone who wants to serve me must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me. [27] “Now my soul is deeply troubled. Should I pray, ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But this is the very reason I came!

Notice Jesus acknowledged His heavy heart, but accepted He was just doing His appointed part.

Still, we read in Matthew 26:39 (NLT)…
[39] He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”

Make no mistake, Jesus suffered long for us. And God, continues to patiently (longsuffer) for us to accept the gift of life that Jesus gave.

So whenever you’re about to blow your short fuse with others, pause and remember God “does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.”

Also, whenever we mess up, remember 1 John 1:9 (NIV) tells us…
[9] If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Every time you confess your sin, pause and thank God for His longsuffering.

Especially because…
The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.

Prayerfully today’s post has given you a greater appreciation for the longsuffering nature of God that extends His…

• Unfailing compassion
• Unending mercy
• Unconditional love
• Unearned grace

When reflecting on all God has done for you, remember to include His longsuffering mercy, love and grace too.

Today’s song is…
His Mercy Endureth Forever

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)