{"id":26,"date":"2008-04-16T09:05:00","date_gmt":"2008-04-16T16:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25551729.post-8129736971922668820"},"modified":"2009-07-06T09:18:00","modified_gmt":"2009-07-06T16:18:00","slug":"got-potential-2008-04-16-160500","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gotpotential.org\/gods-purpose\/got-potential-2008-04-16-160500","title":{"rendered":"Being “Long of Nose”"},"content":{"rendered":"

Purpose<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Vol. 2 Issue 5 January 31, 2008<\/strong><\/em><\/span>
\nThe weekly newsletter of True Potential Publishing <\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law\u00e2\u20ac\u009d (Galatians 5:22-23).<\/p>\n

Being \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Long of Nose\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

This is week four of a nine week study of the fruit of the Spirit and what it has to do with finding purpose in life. This week\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s subject fruit is \u00e2\u20ac\u0153patience.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d How does possessing patience relate to understanding and achieving my purpose in life?<\/p>\n

First, let\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s define \u00e2\u20ac\u0153patience.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Merriam-Webster\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Collegiate Dictionary defines \u00e2\u20ac\u0153patience\u00e2\u20ac\u009d as: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153the capacity, habit, or fact of being patient.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Not much to go on there. We could look up \u00e2\u20ac\u0153patient\u00e2\u20ac\u009d or find another dictionary that might expand Merriam-Webster\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s un-generous definition, but you know by now, that\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s not where I generally head next.<\/p>\n

The Old Testament writers got their point across in Hebrew or Aramaic. The New Testament writers studied Hebrew (Luke was the only Gentile in the pack) and wrote in Greek. So to really understand what they said we need to understand what they said.<\/p>\n

I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve spent a lot of time in the last few weeks going over the meanings of Greek and Hebrew words and I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122d apologize if I thought I owed it to you, but a lot of this stuff is just too good to pass up and if I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t tell you who\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s going to?<\/p>\n

*****<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n

When your English Old Testament says \u00e2\u20ac\u0153patience\u00e2\u20ac\u009d it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s actually translating two Hebrew words, \u00d7\u0161\u00d7\u00a8\u00d7\u0090 (arek) \u00e2\u20ac\u0153long\u00e2\u20ac\u009d and \u00d7\u00a3\u00d7\u0090 (af) \u00e2\u20ac\u0153nose\u00e2\u20ac\u009d. The literal English translation is \u00e2\u20ac\u0153long nose.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

So having a long nose is a fruit of the Spirit? Maybe literally, but not really. Ancient Hebrews (possibly modern Hebrews) saw someone\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s nose turning red as a sign that they were getting angry. Therefore the word for \u00e2\u20ac\u0153nose\u00e2\u20ac\u009d and the word for \u00e2\u20ac\u0153anger\u00e2\u20ac\u009d became synonymous. If a person didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t anger easily, if it took a long time for his nose to turn red, he was, in Hebrew parlance, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153long of nose\u00e2\u20ac\u009d; slow to anger.<\/p>\n

I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll bet not everyone knows \u00e2\u20ac\u0153patience\u00e2\u20ac\u009d means \u00e2\u20ac\u0153long nose\u00e2\u20ac\u009d in Hebrew. You could corner the dinner table conversation with that one.<\/p>\n

Bible translators probably didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t want to go to the trouble to explain all this so they substituted \u00e2\u20ac\u0153patience\u00e2\u20ac\u009d for \u00e2\u20ac\u0153long nose,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d which seemed to work out well.<\/p>\n

There are two Greek words for \u00e2\u20ac\u0153patience\u00e2\u20ac\u009d in the New Testament; both of them are worth digging into. The first is \u00e2\u20ac\u0153makrothumia.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s the same word the English Bible translates \u00e2\u20ac\u0153longsuffering.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Makrothumia\u00e2\u20ac\u009d means: \u00e2\u20ac\u0153patience, endurance, constancy, steadfastness, perseverance, forbearance, longsuffering, slowness in avenging wrongs.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<\/p>\n

The other Greek word for \u00e2\u20ac\u0153patience\u00e2\u20ac\u009d is \u00e2\u20ac\u0153hupomone\u00e2\u20ac\u009d. Strong\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Lexicon defines \u00e2\u20ac\u0153hupomone\u00e2\u20ac\u009d as \u00e2\u20ac\u0153the characteristic of a man [or woman] who is not swerved from his [or her] deliberate purpose and his [or her] loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Boy, I like that one. I could write a whole book on that one \u00e2\u20ac\u00a6 maybe later.<\/p>\n

So \u00e2\u20ac\u0153patience,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d the character trait Paul mentions as a fruit of the Spirit, is a lot richer than I ever imagined. It means \u00e2\u20ac\u0153slow to anger\u00e2\u20ac\u009d and \u00e2\u20ac\u0153slow to avenge wrongs\u00e2\u20ac\u009d (turning the other cheek); but it means a lot more. It means \u00e2\u20ac\u0153endurance,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d the capacity to keep going or put up with pain and hardship for a long time; \u00e2\u20ac\u0153constancy,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d loyalty as a partner and a friend; \u00e2\u20ac\u0153steadfastness,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d adhering firmly and faithfully to a principle or cause; \u00e2\u20ac\u0153perseverance,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d trying hard and continuously in spite of obstacles and difficulties; \u00e2\u20ac\u0153forbearance,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d refraining from action, even when it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s your legal right; \u00e2\u20ac\u0153longsuffering,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d forgiving, resigned, tolerant, accommodating, selfless.<\/p>\n

Wow.<\/p>\n

What kind of person could I be if my life was characterized by that kind of patience? What affect would it have on the world if believers demonstrated that kind of patience in their lives? Living out \u00e2\u20ac\u0153makrothumia\u00e2\u20ac\u009d patience would make us better people and make the world a better place to live, wouldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t it?<\/p>\n

But what do you think the Bible means when it calls patience a fruit of the Spirit? Why do you think it lists nine characteristics of the fruit of the Spirit at all? Is it to make us better people? To make the good, gooder? To make the world a better place to live?<\/p>\n

I think it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s something deeper. Let me show you what I mean.<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153What if God, choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath\u00e2\u20ac\u201dprepared for destruction? What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory \u00e2\u20ac\u00a6?\u00e2\u20ac\u009d (Romans 9:22-23)<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d(I Timothy 1:16)<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Bear in mind that our Lord\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d (II Peter 3:15)<\/p>\n

Do you see it? Patience isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t a characteristic of man; it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a characteristic of God. His goal isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t to make us into good people; He\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s making us to be like Him. That\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s what the fruit of the Spirit is describing.<\/p>\n

Look at the list again; \u00e2\u20ac\u0153love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Those aren\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t characteristics that come naturally to people, we know better than that; they\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re characteristics of God. He\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s got something much bigger in mind for us than just being good folks.<\/p>\n

Something eternal is happening in you when the Holy Spirit dwells inside. The Holy Spirit\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s job isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t to remake you into a better person; it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s to remake you into the image of God. That\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s the way it was in the beginning. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Then God said, \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcLet us make man in our image, in our likeness \u00e2\u20ac\u00a6.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d (Genesis 1:26)<\/p>\n

God\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s intent wasn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t to make us into the image of really good folks; it was to make us in His own image. The fruit of the Spirit is evidence of a restoring process. It isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t an indication that we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re being molded into good citizens of this world, but that we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re being transformed into children of the next.<\/p>\n

God\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s characteristics are \u00e2\u20ac\u0153love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d The fruit of the Spirit is \u00e2\u20ac\u0153love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d See the connection? We\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re not being made into a better version of the old man; we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re being made into something new, into a reflection of God.<\/p>\n

And that requires patience \u00e2\u20ac\u00a6 on His part and ours. He is our example, we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re to copy Him. Why should we be \u00e2\u20ac\u0153slow to anger\u00e2\u20ac\u009d with those who have wronged us? Because He is \u00e2\u20ac\u0153slow to anger\u00e2\u20ac\u009d with those who have wronged Him (you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re in that group, by the way). Why should we endure – put up with pain and hardship?<\/p>\n

Remember when God endured – put up with pain and hardship, even the point of being nailed to a cross?<\/p>\n

We\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve been adopted into a new family, born into a new life. Patience is a characteristic of that new life and of the Father who has adopted us. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a characteristic that makes us better people, as this world sees things; but that\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s only because it is a characteristic of that life we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re intended toward, a reflection of what is to come. Like the other fruit, it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a piece of eternity allowed to us today.<\/p>\n

Until next week, live in God\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s image \u00e2\u20ac\u00a6 practice patience.<\/p>\n

Love & Prayers,<\/p>\n

Steve Spillman<\/p>\n

*****<\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n

In the next few weeks we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll undergo a few format changes to make the Purpose letter friendlier. For instance we\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re putting all the housekeeping stuff (below) at the end of the letter so you can get right into the meat of each issue. As we change things around a bit give me your feedback, does it work or doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t it? Any ideas you have for making things better are welcome.<\/p>\n

If you didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t receive last week\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s letter you can go to https:\/\/gotpotential.org\/<\/a> any time and read or print back issues.<\/p>\n

When you forward Purpose Weekly to friends (and we want you to), ask them not to report it as SPAM. If they like the letter encourage them to go to https:\/\/gotpotential.org\/<\/a> so they can sign up for a complimentary subscription.<\/p>\n

We\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve been getting some great mail. Keep it coming, or post a comment to this week\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s blog at http:\/\/gotpotential.blogspot.com\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Purpose Vol. 2 Issue 5 January 31, 2008 The weekly newsletter of True Potential Publishing \u00e2\u20ac\u0153But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law\u00e2\u20ac\u009d (Galatians 5:22-23). Being \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Long of Nose\u00e2\u20ac\u009d This is week four of a nine week study of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[12,6],"tags":[861,528,525,527,526],"class_list":["post-26","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-fruit-of-the-spirit","category-gods-purpose","tag-fruit-of-the-spirit","tag-hupomone","tag-long-of-nose","tag-makrothumia","tag-patience"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gotpotential.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gotpotential.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gotpotential.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gotpotential.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gotpotential.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/gotpotential.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gotpotential.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gotpotential.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=26"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gotpotential.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=26"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}