Today’s background photo is not at all like the previous photos thus far in our look at Patience. Rather than a fuse, today’s light is coming from a long wick, saturated in pure, clear oil. The result is a gentle, steady, welcoming glow.
“God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all.” (1 John 1:5) The light of God is not one of sparks, flame, or smoke. The light of God is a gentle, steady, welcoming glow of hope, help, and healing.
If we are followers of Jesus Christ, we will “walk in the light as He is in the light.” (1 John 1:7) This means that our light should also be a gentle, steady, welcoming glow of hope, help, and healing.
How is it possible for us to have this kind of light??
The Holy Spirit!
When God cleanses our hearts from sin, the Holy Spirit replaces our short fuse with a long wick:
“I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees …”
– Ezekiel 36:25-27
When the Holy Spirit replaces our short fuse with a long wick, we become completely different!
Previously, our short fuse was nothing but sin and selfishness … volatile and just waiting to blow up.
But no more! When the Holy Spirit changes us, He takes all that old away! He makes us new! He replaces the short fuse with a long wick, of His very own righteousness.
Our background photo no longer shows a short stick full of smoke-bomb chemicals or explosive danger … but rather a spotless glass lamp housing a gentle, controlled flame.
This what it looks like when the Holy Spirit give us His PATIENCE!
The Sword of the Spirit (which is the Word of God) will produce the Fruit of the Spirit PATIENCE.
