What is long suffering in vs 12 of Colassians 3. We are told to put it on. Sometimes it nice to look at one word and ask what is it and how do we train for it, gain it, get it and keep it. First we must put on Christ, it matters not who you are, we must as believers put on the new man and allow Christ to renew us in his knowledge after the image of him of the one that created him. Yes paraphrasing this AM. It is imporant, it matter only one things you have received Christ no matter your back ground to be grow in the knowledge of Christ/word of God. To be established in the knowledge of hope and longsuffering. If God is willing to be longsuffering with his people, out we not be longsuffering as God teach us through his Son. Christ did have to forgive before his death but he did. He did not have to return to prove his ability to live on. He could of gone and recreated a new world and new people but he did not.

Through out the history of the Bible we see the longsuffering of God established with the Jews and given to the heathens/gentile nations. There has always been people of faith in the gentile and jewish world but never in full agreement with each other. The point being first to understand Christ came in the flesh to save us from the sin of unforgiveness, to teach us about forgiveness in the realm of suffering. If I begin there, God has suffered long before the cross, but he demonstrates it through the cross of his dear Son, the incarnated deity in the form of man.

Many of us suffer daily with the effects of our family and our past and the inability to change it, but can only change our future if others will allow it. It is a choice of all involved. Some of the first people one learns longsuffering with is family, the next is a friend, workmates and then future spouses. Everyone dealing with others either with compassion or anger. Truth lies we learn tolerance, forgiveness, instead of shaking hands and now with hand gestures of kindness and friendship that all is okay or well with each other. Yet tolerance is learned to survive in this world of many blunders now caught on camera and placed on social media. Yet long suffering when abuse happens, false accusations, lies and down right bodily harm, comes with longsuffering of Christ. How much are we ourselves willing to take for Christ. An inoccent people face with brutatily of cops, for race, religion, disability, enability, and just because he had a bad day. Do we forgive because his job is stressful, or do we subject them to years in the prison system where they put crimes and punishment of similiar kind.

Life stinks, no life is not accomplished without longsuffering of humanity. I wants was told as a Christian that a person got saved because of another long suffering in the since of a person showing more care to another then what was tolerable, and others would of said the person just did their job and was paid for it. There many jobs that have to deal with learn to longsuffering with others, but what about when you not on the job clock do you still have to take what people do to you in regards of no recourse. Where is the justice and injustice line lay. Is longsuffering putting people behind bars and closed doors because you do not like them. Or is it allowing others the same respect you want as well. God is more tolerant then any of us, but he still corrects his children.

We must understand longsuffering comes to law abiding citizens and faithful people in our world the same way. What does it mean as a believe to longsuffer. Be patient with those that are no in faith where you are and be an encourager. Be willing to forgive those that hurt you, but not allow others to walk all over you either. There is a line that is cross at times that need correction and if we allow it to go, then what society turns into is total chaos. If the problem is between you and another and no one else, then perhaps tolerance for a long time period is better, until maybe they understand the strips they put on your back as well as Christ.

The level of longsuffering goes with tolerance level of the injustice as well as the forgiveness level of the transgression of another. Forgiveness does not mean correction. Did God correct those that nailed his son Jesus to the cross, he corrected them with allowing them to see him alive, allowing them to witness the earthquake, the eclipse, the dead rising, and more. They witnessed it to the point a soldier cried out he must be the Son of God. Did people not repent in Jerusalem that crucified Jesus after the resurrection and Peter began to preach.

Longsuffering never said you do not confront the issue. Longsuffering means it is not eye for eye or a tooth for a tooth, but love with the guidelines of compassion that you would want to receive in the same situation. Love pulls many out of the ditches of life, but do we understnad that. Do we understand Christ pulled us from the grave of sin and death, instead gave us a grave of death and everlasting life, through belief in him. He is more longsuffering, more peaceful then anyone can ever be, but we must strive to live in love, hope and peace with each other because we slip up too. Put on longsuffering with others as believers in Christ, knowing there time when people do not want to hear the Gospel of faith, or the hope there is through belief in Christ. When Man can not forgive God is still able to forgive, that is his longsuffering, his compassion, often not ours.

Dear Heavenly Father, give us the hope we need through Christ Jesus. Help us to be longsuffering as you are with us. In Jesus precious name, Amen.

Continual Scripture Study: 1 Timothy 1:15-17 KJV
15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.