Christ Integration Camp

Fruit of the Spirit: PATIENCE

Say:

• Each day we will face situations that test our patience. These can be small things, like someone taking their time when you are in a hurry or very big things, like waiting on God to heal a family member. As we learn to be patient in the small things, God will prepare us to go through the bigger things.
• Today we are going to learn about the other two parts of patience.
  • Second Peter 3:15 explains that Jesus is patiently waiting to come back to earth so that all people will have a chance to know Him and be saved (in context). So, God is patient in a general way with all people, but also in a very specific way with each of us.
  • In I Timothy 1:16 Paul says that he was shown mercy so that God’s perfect patience would be put on display. Paul, like all of us, did not deserve to be saved. He had offended God badly over and over again, but God was patient with him and still saved him.
• When we are struggling to be patient with another person, we should remember God’s patience toward us. As sinners, we have offended God. The Bible says that we have even hated Him. So, God had every right to be angry with us, but instead He showed just how awesome His patience is by saving us! If someone hurts you and you really just want to explode back at them, think of all the things you have done against God. Think of how He could have punished you, but instead in His patience poured out His mercy and love. This is not just when we are saved either. Every day we still wrong God and He still is patient with us. So, may that truth sink deep into our hearts and motivate us to be patient with others!
• That evening the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away so they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.”
• Lets read passage of Scripture that can teach us a bit more about patience. Matthew 14:15–18 reads:
  • But Jesus said, “That isn’t necessary—you feed them.” “But we have only five loaves of bread and two fish!” they answered. “Bring them here,” He said.
• There seem to be two kinds of people in the world: those who are always in a hurry, and those who are never in a hurry. The hurried person is already buckled into the car while their unhurried family member wanders around dreamily, forgetting that they were supposed to find their shoes. What kind of person are you? In today’s Bible passage, Jesus didn’t seem to be in any hurry to go anywhere. He was in a remote place with his disciples and thousands of followers. But it was getting late and his disciples’ stomachs were probably grumbling. They were the kind of people with important schedules and no time for lunch. If they’d had watches, they would have been tapping them, saying, “um, Jesus, it’s getting late! Send these people home!”  But instead of snapping at them or telling them to relax, he gave the disciples an Impossible job. I imagine them giving each other The Look and whispering, “Did he just say what I thought he said?” and “but that was supposed to be our supper!” The disciples weren’t wrong. It really was late, and the logical thing to do was to shoo the crowds away, but Jesus patiently chose to serve and show his power. I’m so glad Jesus was patient with his disciples, because otherwise we might never have had this amazing miracle. The disciples weren’t patient. But Jesus is always patient. He waited while the disciples gathered the tiny lunch that could get the party started then took the time to pray and pass out food to over 5000 people. Looking at Jesus always shows us something true about God. He is patient with us, even when we don’t deserve it.
• When you keep making the same mistake over and over, God is patient with you. When you can’t seem to stop pestering your sister or telling lies or having grumpy days, God is patient with you. He isn’t in a hurry. God knows that as you keep listening to him, he’ll be able to help you change and grow the fruit of patience. And guess what? If God is patient with you, you can be patient with yourself too. Keep getting to know God and he will patiently help you stop making that same mistake.

Ask:

• Who is the most patient person you know?
• When do you get impatient with yourself?
• What do you think God might want to say to people who are always impatient?

I want to remind you that patience grows when we get closer to Jesus, not just by trying harder.