Long-suffering

1Tim 1:13

Even though I was a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. :14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
Paul says this in his letter to Timothy.
Father, You were merciful toward Paul, You say because of his ignorance and unbelief. You extended Your wonderful super abundant overflowing (Rom 5:15) grace. Grace enough to turn him around, to change his mind, his thinking, his beliefs. To open his heart to truth.
In verses: 15 and 16 Paul says that he obtained mercy for the reason that in him, the worst of all sinners, Jesus Christ might show forth and display all His perfect long-suffering and patience for an example to encourage all those who would thereafter believe on Him for the gaining of eternal life.
What if, Father, we as believers extended the long-suffering toward other believers and even the lost, that You extend to us. This word, long-suffering, is derived from words that give the meaning of “long holding of the mind, before it gives room to action or passion.”
We already have perfect long-suffering within us in Christ Jesus. Do we believe this?
We are able to hold our minds in Him, to hold our minds to truth…realizing that we are but flesh and there are areas in everyone’s life that need His light, His power to overcome. To remember this can help us to extend God’s superabundant mercy and love toward those with whom we grow impatient of their ways, be they believers or the lost.

Father, when we as believers allow Your mercy, long-suffering and grace toward others to break forth from our heart, they will be encouraged and experience the faith and love that are in and through Christ, Our Living Lord.