"And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a
heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing
with one another, and forgiving each other whoever has a complaint against
anyone, just as the Lord has forgiven you." Colossians 3:12-13

Remember the Apostle Paul is speaking here of that new man in Christ and our
relationship with one another. Let's look at patience (some translations use
the term longsuffering). We have looked at compassion and humility, so we
follow up with patience.

'...Put on a heart of.patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving one
another..."

The Greek word for longsuffering in "Vine's Expository Dictionary" is:
"Makrothumia, forbearance, patience, longsuffering (makros meaning long and
thumos meaning temper), is usually rendered longsuffering."

In the following we have expressions of God's longsuffering: (Read the
Scripture verses in context for the full picture.)

"For the sake of My name I delay My wrath,
And for My praise I restrain it for you,
In order not to cut you off." Isaiah 48:9

The Apostle Paul speaking of God's patience in the time of Noah,
"...When the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during
construction of the ark, in which a few that is eight persons were brought
safely through the water." 1 Peter 3:20

"The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is
patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to
repentance." 2 Peter 3:9

I love this expression of God's graciousness and His patience as seen in
Isaiah 30:18 (Let us yield quickly to our loving and glorious Lord!)
"Therefore the Lord longs (waits) to be gracious to you,
And therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you.
For the Lord is a God of justice;
How blessed are all those who long (wait) for Him."
The parentheses are the margin notes.

Our opening Scripture tells us that we are to have a heart of patience,
bearing with one another, therefore, the Believer in love:
"Bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all
things."  1 Corinthians 13:7 (Read verses 4-8, it is the description of
love.)

Paul says, the Believer is to walk in a manner worthy of our calling,
"With all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to one
another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the
bond of peace." Ephesians 4:2-3

Ephesians 4:32 tells us,
"And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as
God in Christ also has forgiven you."

1 John  4:11 tells us,
"Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another."

In Colossians Chapter 3 the Apostle Paul is telling us, as a new man in
Christ, we are to set our mind on things above and as we have seen in
our beginning verses 12-13, he encourages us in living in a Christ like
manner. He closes that chapter with,
"Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for
men; knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the
inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve."  Verses 23-24

Let us always be sensitive to the Holy Spirit that we may have hearts that
express compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience always
forgiving one another in the love of Christ.

All praise to the Lord of our salvation! Amen.