God Attribute, 61

 ~ God Is Longsuffering ~

 

This Series  ~  This series of posts looks at some of the many attributes of God.  Generally, we move in alphabetical order.

 

Introduction  ~  There are many verses in the Bible which speak of the longsuffering nature of God.  We list just a couple.

 

Scripture  ~  “And the Lord passed before him and proclaimed, ‘The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth” (Exodus 34:6).

 

“But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth” (Psalm 86:15).

 

Comments  ~  [1] One key reason for God’s longsuffering nature is His patience in waiting for more to accept the sacrifice of His Son as payment for their sins. “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

 

[2] God’s patient longsuffering will not last forever: “And the Lord said, ‘My Spirit shall not strive with man forever’” Genesis 6:3a)

 

“The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.  He will not always strive with us, nor will He keep His anger forever.  He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities” (Psalm 103:8-10).

 

[3] Believers are to become more and more Christlike as they live their lives on earth.  This includes longsuffering: “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.  Against such there is no law.  And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.  Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another” (Galatians 5:22-26).

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

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