“He Who is God, stopped to be born in the womb of His mother, and waited patiently, and grew up; and when grown up, was not impatient to be recognized as God.

He was baptized by His servant, and repelled the tempter only by words. When He became a Teacher, He did not strive, nor cry, nor did anyone hear His voice in the streets…He scorned no man’s company; He shunned no man’s table. He conversed with publicans and sinners. He poured out water and washed His disciples’ feet.

He would not injure the Samaritan village which did not receive Him, when His disciples called fire from heaven to consume it. He cured the unthankful; He withdrew from those who plotted against Him. And when He is betrayed and is brought to execution, He is like a sheep which before His shearers is dumb, and a lamb that doth not open His mouth, He who, Lord of angelic Legions, did not approve the sword of Peter drawn in His defense…is spit upon, scourged, mocked, crucified…Such longsuffering…is found in God alone.”

-Tertullian (A.D 122-50)

Take your time and read that. Now read it again slowly. Are you as blown away as I am? We are told to strive to be like Jesus, to act like Him and to model after Him. But, do any of us really understand what  that means? Are we all talk? Do we actually attempt to be like Jesus?

I consider myself a relatively patient person most of the time (emphasis on most of the time!) But have you ever considered how patient Jesus was, He is God, He could have just appeared but instead

He ‘stopped to be born in the womb of His mother.’ 

‘He waited patiently and grew up.’

‘He was not impatient to be recognized as God’

I don’t know about you but I have impatiently waited to understand Gods’ plan for my life, to understand why He has placed me where I am. To when He will bring me into the right job.

I’ve always been told patience is a hard lesson to learn, I honestly don’t think patience is one of those lessons that ever ends because every time we think we are being patient something new comes along. We are not a culture that likes to wait. We expect everything in the here and now. Even our food is made to cook in 90 seconds in the microwave. We’ve grown up in a society that survives on the fast food and on the go meal. We can get yogurt in a tube just so it can be eaten while on the run. Everything has been made for us to go go go so much so that we forget how to slow down and breath and to be patient.

With Christ as our model, let’s remember that He did not rush things. He grew up just like we did. He spent 9 months in the womb. He took time to learn and to be alone. He went to a quiet place to pray. Jesus knew how to slow down and appreciate each day and each person He came in contact with. He made real connections. He broke bread with His disciples and took time to fellowship, not only on a quick stop at the nearest Starbucks. This week let’s start to slow down and really understand what it means to have Christ as our model. To echo His patience and love for others. To take time and really connect with someone this week.

-Elle

The 1 Peter: Finding Encouragement in Troubling Times was provided to me complimentary from Kregel Publishing in exchange for an honest review. This is an inductive Bible Study by Sue Edwards which I will be going through for the next 9 weeks.