Remember God’s Patience with You

Pray – (1/2 minute)

Read – (2 1/2 minutes) – “ This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:1-2)     
     Passage: 1 Timothy 12-17

        Everyone encounters VDP’s in life. Rick Warren calls these “Very Draining People”. He points out four types of VDP’s. They are: difficult – immature, rude, demanding; demanding – pushy, self-centered; disappointing – they don’t keep promises and let you down; destructive – they intentionally try to hurt you. Just as everyone encounters VDP’s, all of us at times are a VDP to someone else. That’s because all of us are sinners and none of us will do relationships perfectly.
       One of the key principles you need for dealing with VDP’s with distinct patience like Jesus is to remember how God is patient with you. The Apostle Paul never forgot how God had shown Him mercy and was patient with him. He recognized that in his own sinful nature, he was the “chief of sinners”, not just in the past before He believed in Jesus, but in the present as well. He knew He was justified by faith and that he could never lose his salvation, but he did not consider himself better than anyone else and so he could be patient with others, because God was patient with him. It is the same for you.   

Apply - (2 1/2 minutes)
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Pray - (1 1/2 minutes)