But how do we exhibit this fruit of the spirit in a godly way? 

When we look at the other Fruit of the Spirit and their definitions and how to live it out as believers, it is quite simple. We can experience joy, peace, love, but patience? We can practice waiting without complaint but what does this aid in our sanctification? How does this make us more like Christ? 

Let’s look at Jesus. He was the perfect picture of patience. He was both patient with his people, his enemies, and his father. If the Fruit of the Spirit is to make us more like Christ, then we can look at the ways Jesus showed perfect endurance without complaint. 

With Philip, who said, “Lord show us the Father and it will be enough for us,” Jesus responds, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). With Thomas, who struggled in his faith and needed physical proof that Jesus was the Messiah, the Lord did not express anger by saying, “Why don’t you believe me after all this time?” Instead, he put John’s hands on his wounds. (John 20:25) 

Jesus’ patience resided in the fact that he was doing his father’s perfect will and redeeming his people. 

Think about Jesus’ patience in human terms. We rebel against him, sin daily in thought, word, and deed, and yet the Lord is patient and faithful to redeem us and keep us in His perfect love. 

Paul beautifully speaks of our endurance in our Christian walk in Galatians 6:9: “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” 

There may be times when we struggle to understand why things are the way they are or struggle to fight sin or even to trust. But in our doing “good,” in our patience without complaint, we will reap the harvest that Paul so clearly states here. 

The reward of that patience is far sweeter than we can imagine because that reward is Jesus.