Patience

Romans 8:23-25

23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

---

Paul explains that the Jesus-people are waiting for God to fix everything. Jesus is the Son, beloved of the Father, and He has been raised from the dead and is seated at the right hand of God. From there He shall judge the living and the dead.

The Son came to bring us back into the love of the Father, and the Father’s desire is to share with us love He has for the Son, and the Spirit is the love They share.

This is why Paul talks about our “adoption as sons.” He does not mean “male children” and not female children—rather, he is speaking of our inclusion into the life of the Son. We are waiting for God to do the same thing for us that He has already done for Jesus—to be raised to new life, in incorruptible bodies.

Obviously, this hasn’t happened yet. And so, we wait in hope. But Paul makes the point that our waiting needs to be a “patient” waiting. That is, we need to trust that though we don’t understand the timeline, that nevertheless God is good and can be trusted.

Where in your life in God do you need to exercise more patience today?