It has been said that “True patience is waiting without worrying.” We see this in these seven little words that Jesus gave us, “In your patience possess Ye your souls.” What does it mean to possess our souls? Solomon says “He that ruleth his own spirit is greater than He that takes a city.” And again, “He that has no rule over his own spirit is like a broken down city.” Paul speaking about Abraham says, “And so after he had patiently endured he obtained the promise.” What patient waiting must surely have been necessary for Abraham who always inquired of God first, then acted on God’s answer to his prayer. He had to wait for the promise of an heir until he was 100 years old before Isaac was born. His deep faith in God produced his patient waiting for all God’s answers to him.
Peter says, “We are given exceeding great and precious promises that by these we might be partakers of the Divine Nature.” II Peter 1:4. The next Three verses exhort us in the “add to” virtues. To faith add virtue—add temperance—add patience—add Godliness—add brotherly kindness—add charity or love. What about the adding to? Certainly it isn’t done as quickly as we read about it. It requires perseverance and work. Paul cites the fruits of the spirit, love, joy, peace, long-suffering (patience), gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance.
To obtain fruit in a garden or from a tree requires work and the more work the better the fruit. So it is with us. These “add to” fruits of the spirit are not born in us but are qualities for which we must dig.
Paul speaks of work of faith, labor of love, and the patience of hope. When we work in faith and labor in love it evidently produces patience and hope. “The man of God should follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and meekness. Notice patience is not listed in any of these places as the first quality to seek. It comes along near the last “add to.” It is one of the items in the working out of salvation.
We are working as the tapestry weaver who works on the wrong side, and none of us know how near perfect we are weaving until our Lord turns the finished product over and gives us according to our works. We hope it will be “Well done, faithful Servant.”
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One