The Limits of God's Patience

     Have you ever put your limits to the test? Have you ever maxed out your capacity on something? For many, the images that come to mind when we think of doing those things take place in a weight room, during a race, or some other form of physical or mental exertion. And these are easy pictures and examples to think of because of the untapped potential that is present in both our minds and bodies. Most scientists would agree that it is a myth that we only use 10% of our brain capacity, but depending on various circumstances and situations, the potential of brain function is something that many of us don’t actually tap into to experience optimal performance. The same goes with our muscular system. According to various reports, most of us are only able to access around 50-60% of our theoretical muscle potential at any given moment. With the proper practice and training, both of these limits can be raised, but there will still be limitations to them. I’m pretty sure I will never figure out how E=mc2 or be able to pull an 18-wheeler behind me and at the end of the day I am totally fine with that.
      Pushing beyond your limits can be painful, challenging and exhausting, but it can also be fun, rewarding, and enjoyable. When it comes to limitations as human beings, we have plenty of them all over the board. However, many of these go beyond the physical and mental ones. An easy limitation that I have, and is common among many others, is one that we will take a look at in our text this week: patience. Do any of you have limitations with your amount of patience? It’s crazy how the littlest things can set me off or bug me or create perceived inconveniences that are just not that big of a deal. I’m a funny person. But it is within our limitations created by our sinful nature that God desires to show up to show us and remind us of His unlimited potential and His limitless characteristics that He delivers to us.
         This week we are going to be taking a look at the Apostle Paul’s first letter to a young pastor named Timothy. Timothy needed some guidance and encouragement from his mentor because the situation he was in called for him to be bold and proactive in communicating the truth of God’s Word in a city that was full of lies, misconceptions, and deception when it came to a knowledge of God. In the first  chapter, Paul reminds Timothy that no one is too far for the Gospel to reach. Paul uses the example of his own personal life to prove the point that if God can work to save Paul and bring him into His family, He can do the same for anyone else. The key to this mercy and grace of God is His patience.
      Do you know that God’s patience knows no bounds? That it is unlimited? That it’s maximum potential is beyond our understanding much less our grasp? This is good news for us this morning because I need God’s patience in my life. I need to know, trust, and find peace that He is patient with me in all of my shortcomings and limitations brought on by my sin. He doesn’t get annoyed or fed up to the point that He just says, “Well, I tried but he/she is a hopeless case!” Rather, He continues to show us His patience, His love, and His grace even when we are far from deserving it. And He uses our lives as a living example to showcase that amazing quality of His so that others might know Him more. Aren’t you thankful that God is patient with you too?
​Pastor Ben