Patience

Last week at the back porch, we were talking about "waiting on the Lord."  My emphasis was about prayer and seeking the favor of the Lord as we look for Him to enliven us and cause change in our community.  I felt that I wasn't clear on some things that I was thinking and it turns out that God was using my friends to guide my heart in how we must seek the favor of the Lord, yet we must be obedient to what we know to do.

I came across a post from Desiring God and posted it on my blog.

posted by Brad

Comments

[John Thompson]

2 Timothy 2:24-26 ESV

24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.

2 Timothy 2:24-26 KJV

24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

2 Timothy 2:24-26 NIV

24 And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 25 Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.

Apparently strive and quarrel mean the same thing. I hate the English language. I wish I would have grown up Hebrew or something.

Hmmm, so get angry less, be kind to everyone, teach. Notice Paul implies that believers can be ensnared or trapped by the devil. There is that word again... enemy/devil.