I’ve figured out that secondary school boys are part of God’s plan to increase patience in my life. In my job I go from one extreme of teaching sixth form students to the corridors of insanity in teaching year 8 English. I enjoy most of my students, but there’s something unmistakably stretching about working with young men who totter uncertainly between childhood and adolescence. Though their personalities are varied, they share a strange affinity for bodily noises, random thoughts, and unrestricted movement.
Because they haven’t had the same instruction, background and experience as the sixth formers, I have a different set of expectations for my 8th-grade pupils. I don’t change my expectations because they lack ability or intelligence. They’re simply a work in progress.
Just as those around us vary in physical age, we also have varied levels of spiritual maturity within the body of Christ. God’s Word remains the uncompromising standard by which we assess the fruit of our lives and the lives of others. But Paul observes that while our actions are to be based on the truth of God, our responses may require adjustment according to the needs of others (Romans 14:14-15,21). Allowing every answer to be measured by grace does not preclude truth, but rather makes it more evident.
God has promised to complete His work in the lives of those who follow Him (Psalm 138:8; Philippians 1:6; 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24), but none of us will be a completed masterpiece in this life. As we work out our own faith (Philippians 2:12), our purpose in practicing patience in the body of Christ is not to ignore the sins of others but rather to “accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory” (Romans 15:7).
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Luke 10:1-24
More:
Patience is necessary to deal with the “troubles and hardships” that others can send our way. Look up Paul’s perspective in 2 Corinthians 6:4-6.
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How can understanding someone’s background help us experience compassion for that person?
tom felten on July 31, 2012 at 3:16 pm
Regina, love what you wrote: “Allowing every answer to be measured by grace does not preclude truth, but rather makes it more evident.” It’s vital that we continue to spur one another on in Jesus—growing in our His likeness and living out His wisdom . . . His truth. And as we face disputable matters (issues that do not have definitive biblical instruction and on which true believers in Jesus sometimes disagree), may we learn to “accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong” (Romans 14:1). As Paul wrote, our goal is to patiently love our brother and sisters in Christ and speak to them in a way that will honor God (Romans 14:8).
winn collier on August 1, 2012 at 5:38 pm
my frustration comes with wanting to take my development in my own hands – or growing frustrated (disillusioned even) when God moves slow (by my schedule).
regina franklin on August 30, 2012 at 9:24 pm
I can relate so well! I mistakenly believe that my enthusiasm for something–especially as it relates to me–equals God’s timing.
bthnykl on August 2, 2012 at 12:01 am
Hi Regina. I was with you up until this comment : “allowing every answer to be measured by grace does not preclude truth, but rather makes it more evident.” I’m confused; what do you mean by that? Maybe it’s a misunderstanding of the wording you chose to use. I understand that we’re all at different “levels” of spiritual maturity and that we need to use grace when coming to an understanding that sometimes we’re going to have to agree to disagree due to the differing levels. I think that’s what I’m getting out of what you’ve written, I’m just stuck on that one sentence. Tom commented on it and thought that had helped me understand but I’m still unsure so I thought I’d ask for clarification from the original author. 🙂 Thanks in advance.
regina franklin on August 30, 2012 at 9:28 pm
Dear bthnykl,
Please forgive me for my tardiness in responding. Starting new school term = reading emails and forgetting to respond :(.
To answer your question, let me state it this way: Just because I allow grace to make my answers easier to receive doesn’t mean I am softening or excluding the truth. Sometimes people think that harsh words are acceptable if they are the “hard truth.” Scripture tells us, though, that a gentle answer has the power to break a bone, especially when the working of the Holy Spirit is involved. Hope that helps.
tom felten on August 31, 2012 at 11:05 am
Good discussion bthnkyl and Regina. The apostle Paul gave us some great insight into this matter when he wrote: “Speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ” (Ephesians 4:15).