Patience, a fruit of God's Spirit and a trait He abundantly displays, is not a passive turning away, but an active effort to control bursts of anger.

The Navy SEALs' fear is not of death, but of failing their team, parallel to the bond Jesus Christ desires among His disciples.

Because God has demonstrated incredible longsuffering with our shortcomings, we should similarly exercise forbearance to those who have offended us.

James emphasizes patience five times, suggesting that it is a capstone of saintly character, encompassing long-suffering, forbearance, and self-restraint.

We have been base and ignoble, but Christ has enabled us to be cleaned up and transformed or shaped into offspring of God to be joint heirs with Christ.

In Paul's listings of virtues, meekness always appears near the end, reflecting its difficulty. Meekness is the gentle, quiet spirit of selfless devotion.

Which button would someone have to push for you to leave the truth of God? The doctrines of grace and liberty have been perverted into tolerance of sin.

Prayers often become difficult because we fail to add thanksgiving, praise or adoration toward God. Thankfulness is an obligation to which we are bound.

Every righteous, selfless act of outgoing concern we perform promotes unity within the church, drawing brethren closer together, suggesting a spiritual law.

We must willing to yield to God's shaping of us, willing to be corrected and changed as He sees fit. If we become self-satisfied, He cannot work with us.

Americans have a hard time submitting to authority and like to consider themselves as sovereigns, having the last say over anything including church doctrine.

Childlike humility overlooks offenses, but childish pride causes one to strike out in retaliation when feelings are hurt or feathers are ruffled.

We are obligated to emulate God's mercy, as well as kindness, forbearance, and judgment. As we extend heartfelt compassion, God will extend mercy to us.

God 'took pleasure' in Christ's being bruised, not in the pain and suffering that His Son endured, but in the ultimate goal of adding to His Family.

When we sin, we have an advocate with Jesus Christ, who has been commissioned to forgive our sins upon repentance. There is no forgiveness apart from Christ.

Though we were freed by God, we will fall into slavery again if we do not maintain our vigilance. Our forbears never learned to live as free men and women.

Justice is more a process of doing (exercising mercy, love, and faith) in all of our interpersonal relations rather than rendering a verdict or sentence.

The peace offering symbolizes the abundant life that results from complete devotion to God (the burnt offering) and service to others (the meal offering).