Dear Church of the Open Bible,
I idle at higher RPMs (revolutions per minute) than most of my family. I appreciate doing something quickly and value that in others. Although I’m not into motor racing, I feel the need for speed! And I’m starting to see that this is a problem. It’s a problem because, as I’m learning, some things can’t be done quickly. In fact, most things that matter can’t be done quickly.
What are some of those things? Well, for starters, discipleship. Discipleship is always in the context of relationship, so the speed at which discipleship takes place is the speed of the relationship. And relationships take time. I think of Jesus’ incredible patience with His disciples. The Son of God dwelt among them for over three years, and as they neared the end of their training, they doubted and abandoned Him. I need to be more patient in my relationships.
And related to this is perhaps the most important thing that cannot be done quickly: love. Our commitments to love can be made quickly (and often easily!), but to actually love someone is to be patient with them (1 Cor 13:4). It is to suffer, even be wronged, and persist in loving them. Speed, in this sense, is a standard and method of the world. It’s natural and human to want something and want it quickly. But patience is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. It is the product of experiencing God’s patience towards me and extending it to others. I need to love better. I need to slow down and love patiently.
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. - 2 Peter 3:9