“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”
Colossians 3:12-14 NIV
This week, we are bringing our three part series on Heavenly Virtues to a close. What a glorious time it has been reflecting on these truths together! While we couldn’t cover all of them, I believe we are learning to practice each one in our daily lives. As we’ve been encouraged to be both hearers and doers of the Word, I echo that same message: in your busy schedules, while attaining your goals and striving for excellence, be intentional about doing all that Heaven expects of you. In this final week, God has pressed two more virtues upon my spirit: patience and love.
1. Patience
When you think of the word “patience,” what comes to mind? I view it as the ability to remain still regardless of your circumstances, allowing the Word of God to manifest on earth as it is in Heaven. The space between the promise and the manifestation is where our patience is usually tested, primarily because we cannot see what is happening beneath the surface during the wait.
God has spoken a word over each and every one of us, whether we realise it or not. He has breathed His promises over your life and deeply desires to bring them to pass. In the process of seeing that manifestation, your role is simply to have faith and trust Him. There is never a moment where God is out of reach or unaware of your situation; He is fully present and on the job. While it may feel like things are moving slowly, He is working with divine urgency and precision. You are so important to Him that He handles your life with the utmost care. Your patience is never in vain!
Think of Zachariah and Elizabeth, a couple that had been married for years and believed God for a child. In Luke 1:13 the Bible says; “But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John.” This happened while Zachariah was performing his routine service in the temple. His human nature led him to wonder how this could be, given that both he and Elizabeth were well advanced in years. Yet, a supernatural intervention had occurred; one that required neither human assistance nor earthly logic. His only role was to obey and witness the fulfilment of the promise. When God speaks, our greatest response is to agree through obedience. His ways are unusual and if we spend all our time trying to figure out how He will do it, we might miss what He is doing. Don’t let the how or the when become a barrier. Let go of the worry and the fear that the promise won’t happen.
Patience is never a punishment, but a tool we use to demonstrate our faith during the wait. In Zachariah’s case, his questioning could have compromised the process, so the angel silenced him to protect the promise. This forced silence allowed him to remain patient and kept his words from changing the divine course. While you are waiting, be careful what you say. Your silence isn’t a penalty; it’s often the very thing that keeps you from talking yourself out of your miracle.
Have you ever found yourself constantly checking your inbox for that one email? Or maybe you called to ask how far along the process was, or had a friend test the waters to see if you were still being considered? Often, when things take longer than expected, we assume the outcome is unfavourable. But patience is at work, creating the best possible conditions for you. For Zachariah and Elizabeth, patience did more than open a closed womb; it prepared Elizabeth’s body and shaped John the baptised into the man he was called to be. That season of waiting gave John one of the highest honours in history: he was the one who recognised and baptised the Messiah.
Please learn to be patient with what God is doing in you, around you, and in the lives of those around you. Be excited to see the finished work of Heaven! I’ve learned that when patience is practiced, you can expect a harvest of goodness and divine completeness. James 1:4; “If you let that patience work in you, the end result will be good. You will be mature and complete. You will be all that God wants you to be.” If it is still a work in progress, then remain patient. Also, Pray that no contamination; no doubt, no fear, and no outside interference, disturbs what God is doing in your life. Remember that your promise can only result in goodness and completeness, so pray fervently.
Stay still and keep the faith. If you’ve ever pursued a qualification, you know that competence isn’t built overnight. It takes years of meeting requirements and gaining experience before you are trusted with an office. We often start these processes knowing the volume of work ahead, yet we commit to the plan anyway. The difference between finishing and walking away is simply patience. Endurance leads to completeness. Some might say that the job brings even more challenges, but because you stayed the course, you now possess the competence and the ability to overcome them.
2. Love
1 Corinthians 13 describes love to be patient, this could mean that our patience in God is a reflection of our love for Him. Think about that for a moment. Then reflect on this; do you love the one you trust and have so much faith in?
Faith, hope, and love are the three pillars apostle Paul tells us will remain, but he makes it clear: love is the greatest. Why? Because love is the very essence of God. He didn’t just speak about it; He showed it, and He continues to pour it out on us. As John 3:16 captures so perfectly, “For here is the way God loved the world—he gave his only, unique Son as a gift. So now everyone who believes in him will never perish but experience everlasting life.” Love was the driving force behind the Cross, and we are the beneficiaries of that incredible grace. Hallelujah.
The story of the Prodigal Son shows us the power of unconditional love. When the son returned home after losing everything, he was prepared to settle for the status of a servant. However, Luke 15:20 reads; “So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.” Luke 15:20 . Love allowed the father to identify his son regardless of his appearance or his failures. God’s love for us is proven. By sending Jesus, He showed us that where love exists, life and hope flourish. Now, it’s our turn. Let’s love others enough to bring them to the King. Demonstrate that love in your daily life, starting with the few people right in front of you.
One of the shelters we partnered with has a toddler whose caregiver shared a beautiful testimony. When he first arrived, he was incredibly uptight; always crying and unable to feel at ease. But as the staff surrounded him with consistent love and presence, he transformed into a boy who loves to cuddle and look you right in the eye. Now, when you hold him, he just laughs and hugs you tight. This is because he was introduced to love. That love healed his innocent soul and restored his hope. By loving him right, he is being healed from the inside out. See how powerful love is? It is the same love that wiped away our sins and gave us everlasting life.
Love is a driving force for change; It allows the Holy Spirit to work freely in and through us. When we do everything in love, as Apostle Paul instructed, we become a magnet for the Kingdom. I pray that when people meet us, they experience a love so profound that they desire to know its Source, drawing them back to the Father, who is overflowing with love for His children. Go out and be an extension of that grace; love others with the same heart our Father has for you.
If you are currently broken or burdened, I pray that you would be reminded of just how much God loves and cares for you. He is right there with you, offering His comfort and His embrace. Whenever you are ready, call out to Him; you will see just how quickly He answers.
Let’s Pray
Precious Father, thank You for this beautiful journey of teaching us Your Heavenly virtues. Thank You for gently showing us what You desire for our lives. We step into every role with faith and love. Teach us, Lord, to wait patiently on You as You work within us, and thank You for ensuring that the finished work is filled with goodness and perfection. Thank You for clearing the way and freeing us to love You and those around us. May Your beautiful love rest upon everyone reading this today. We stand on the truth that nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from Your love in Christ Jesus. Amen!