Unlimited Patience. Seriously?

Have you ever had a teacher or a coach or a parent lose their cool because you screwed something up? Of course you have. When I played football in high school, I dropped a pass in a game that was so easy, everyone in the bleachers gasped and said, “Awww Nooo!” together as the ball tumbled out of my hands and onto the grass. Hundreds of people were frustrated with me at the same time and my coach was about to lose his mind. That dropped pass was so bad that the Biology teacher who took the team stats made fun of me the next day at school.  

We all know how it feels to screw up, let someone down and then listen to them lose their patience and chew us out for our mistake. In fact, we know that feeling so well that it holds us back from drawing near to Jesus when we sin again. We think Jesus will be like that coach or like our parents, but He’s not like them. In 1 Timothy 1, Paul said this: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the worst. But 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 have eternal life.” 

Whoa! Jesus showed mercy to the worst of sinners so that for the rest of time, all the sinners would know that Jesus has unlimited patience and is ready to forgive them and take them in! Wow. Unlimited patience. He’s not frustrated with you. He’s not wringing His hands or pounding His desk in frustration. He’s not losing His cool. He’s patient. He has unlimited patience and is willing to walk through this with you. He loves you. He knows who you’ll be in the end and He’s willing to wait. That doesn't make me want to hang back or hold out on Jesus. That kind of love makes me want to draw near.