A man shows intelligence by his forbearance; it is his glory when he overlooks an offense. Proverbs 19:11 JPSV
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Galatians 5:22-23 NLT
Does it seem to you that there is a lot more rage in the air these days? Recently a case has come to light where one driver offended another. So the second driver tailgated the first for nine miles until the first driver stopped his truck and got out, brandishing a pistol, and told the second driver to leave him alone. So the second driver shot the first, firing nine times (persuading a friendly deputy that it was self-defense.) That is rage.
Is it incidental that one of the fruits of the Spirit is self-control, or that another is patience (forbearance)? Not at all. When the Spirit fills us, we are no longer the center of our world, but Jesus is. That being so, there is room in our hearts for other people. We no longer have to get our way; we no longer have to push others out of the way to get our way. Now we can “cut some slack” for others, give them the benefit of the doubt. Now, knowing the joy of sins forgiven, of Christlikeness being created in us, and the promise of heaven, we can “pray for those who despitefully use us” (using the wonderful KJV language). That is freedom. If nothing other people can do to us can disturb our peace, we are free.
Let us not be infected by the spirit of this age. Rather, let us be so filled with the Spirit of God that unselfish caring will pour out from us no matter how hard we are jostled.
Called To Be Transformed 