Longsuffering

Galatians 5:22,23

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law."

Longsuffering has a similar meaning to patience but with a very specific emphasis - In particular, it refers to being able to bear wrongdoing against yourself and to be willing to accept painful circumstances with gentleness and kindness. When we are wrongly accused, persecuted, or rejected as Christians, we are to keep in mind the love and forbearance that God has graciously shown us. For when we were lost in our sins, how often did we reject God and revile His name? Yet He did not revile or strike back harshly against us; instead, He was always ready to share His love and forgiveness with us if we were willing to seek Him. Even now as Christians we often fail our Lord and deserve great punishment, but He continually gives us of His grace and forgiveness and puts our sins away from us as far as the east is from the west. 

Let us, therefore, have the same mind! If we are put down by unbelievers, let us see it as an opportunity to share God's love and forgiveness with them by personally forgiving them for the wrongs they committed against us. If we are put down by another believer, let us strive to reconcile and grow together spiritually to become more like Christ in meekness and unity. We need to remember that we are not on this earth for our own glory but for the glory of God! Do not let a bitter spirit and contentious attitude cast a dark shadow on the light of God's word, but rather let our patience and endurance adorn the gospel so that all may see it's beauty and desire to learn more of our gracious Saviour!

Psalm 86:15

"But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious,
         longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth."