星期三：忍耐——爱的果实

圣灵所结的果子，就是仁爱、喜乐、和平、忍耐、恩慈、良善、信实、温柔、节制。这样的事，没有律法禁止。——加拉太书5：22-23

让我们来一起看看来自世界各地的水果：

无花果

无花果因其紫色的皮和有淡粉至白色的果肉而吸引人的眼球。它的形状像一个梨或一颗被压扁的泪珠，但它的味道也不错，果肉光滑多汁，且有一种甜甜的坚果味，口感耐嚼，它是一种令人愉悦的水果！

如果你想找到大量最美味的无花果，可以去土耳其、埃及、希腊或摩洛哥。鲜无花果和无花果干都富含大量优质维生素B。它们可用于医药和甜点制作。

今日的属灵果子是忍耐

保罗在加拉太书5章22、23节写道:“圣灵所结的果子，就是仁爱、喜乐、和平、忍耐、恩慈良善 信实、温柔、节制。这样的事没有法律禁止。”

忍耐在字典里的定义是：“忍耐的品格，是指忍受挑衅、烦恼、不幸或痛苦，没有抱怨、发脾气或生气等。” 也指“在遇到耽搁时能抑制不安或恼怒的能力或意愿。”

哇！如果我们每个人都能在生活中遵从忍耐的定义行事，那真的很了不起。想想看，如果夫妻之间没有抱怨、发脾气或者对任何事情感到恼怒，而是能够保持冷静，那他们的关系会完全改变。首先，我们的家会更加安宁。孩子们不是在紧张和焦虑的环境中，而是被赐福着快乐成长。那不是很好的事吗？

试想一下，父母不会因为孩子在安息日早上迟到而对他们大喊大叫，他们让上帝甜美的灵赐给他们忍耐之心，对孩子们做出平和的回应，因为焦躁不安的心只会摧毁安息日的真正目的。我们知道准时到达教堂是很重要的，但是在家里展示耶稣的品格更为重要。

是的，在家庭团聚祈祷周期间，这种被称为忍耐的爱的果实是真正值得祈祷的。虽然有些人可能认为，基于他们目前的家庭状况，培养这种忍耐是不可能的，但我们还是要提醒你，耶稣对这种想法有何看法——耶稣说：“在人是不能，在上帝却不然，因为上帝凡事都能。”（可10:27）。

事实上是，当我们承认我们没有能力或力量在困难的家庭环境中以忍耐地回应，就是上帝能够代表我们完成不可能的事情的时候。我们只要呼求耶稣，祂就会用祂的灵充满我们，在我们的生命中结出忍耐的甘甜果子。然后，通过我们每日生活中圣灵，我们的家庭关系和所有其他关系都将有能力得以改变。

怀爱伦关于忍耐的劝告是：“若有人对你们说躁怒的话，切不可用同样的态度回答他”（传道良助，475页第4段）。圣经中的智慧劝告也提醒我们：「回答柔和，使怒消退；言语暴戾，触动怒气」（箴言15:1）。

我们祈祷你在回应家人和其他人时能够让圣灵帮助你，培养更大的耐心。无论情况多么困难，你都会选择“顺着圣灵而行”（马克5：16），而不是沉溺于“情欲的事”（马克5：19）。这确保你和家人之间，以及你与其他人的关系，都将充满上帝的爱，并每天为你的家庭和教会带来更大的祝福。所以，今天摘下忍耐的果实吧。

祷告：

亲爱的天父，我们请求您今天赐给我们忍耐的品格。帮助我们每天在家能够培养耐心的品格。也让我们谨记要对今天遇到的每一个人都能保持忍耐。奉主耶稣名求，阿门。

忍耐果子小活动

牙签挑战！

牙签堆叠：把瓶子立在桌子上。如果你有年龄比较小的孩子，用一个宽口罐子替代。给每个人12根牙签（如果你没有牙签，可以用干豆子或小石头替代）。大家轮流把一根牙签整齐地放在瓶口上。如果轮到你的时候有牙签从瓶子上掉下来，把它们放进你的牙签堆里。看看谁能先把所有牙签安全地放在瓶口上。

牙签坠落：将瓶子立在离桌子的边缘约40厘米的位置上。给每人12根牙签。轮流坐在瓶子前面的桌子旁。将牙签放在瓶口上方约8-10厘米处，并尝试将牙签放入瓶中。如果它掉在桌子上，你得收回牙签，轮到下一个人继续。如果有年幼的孩子就用罐子替代瓶子，以便他们更容易操作。

其他忍耐活动：

一起做这些活动中的一项：拼图、一起制作一个建筑工具包、种一些种子、只用一包卡片纸就建造一座塔等等。

圣经经文活动

你需要准备：

• 剪刀、报纸或杂志、胶水和纸张

活动提示：

• 这项活动需要忍耐力！
• 你可以自己或作为家人，制作一张存心节的迷你海报。
• 在报纸或杂志上找到大字。
• 把它们剪下来，使每个字母或数字都是大小一样的长方形纸。
• 把字母和数字按顺序排列在一张纸上，拼成这节经文和它的出处，然后用胶水把它们粘起来。
• 加一些杂志或报纸上的其他图片作为装饰。
• 把它放在能提醒家里每个人要更加忍耐的地方——可能在浴室门上，前门内侧，或者厨房里！

一起讨论的问题

• 忍耐是圣灵的果实，因为…当……的時候，耶稣会展现祂的忍耐
• 向他人展现忍耐的《圣经》人物还有……
• 以下情况……我觉得最难忍耐
• 帮助我保持耐心的一些事情是…
• 我在本周一次忍耐是发生在……
• 我们可以通过……帮助彼此变得更有忍耐力
• 祈祷：感谢上帝，在本周以下情况下……请帮助我们变得有忍耐力

弟兄姐妹们，我们想通过本平台分享更多国外本会优质影像资料。因为人手有限，希望招募一些志同道合的主内同工，做英文视频字幕翻译，视频字幕合成制作，视频中文配音，配音对轨制作。有意者请留言输入“义工申请”。以马内利！

Wednesday

Patience: A fruit of love

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

-Gal 5:22-23

Let’s learn about fruit from around the World:

FIGS

Figs have a purple-colored outer skin and fade pink-to white color flesh that makes it very appealing to the eye. It is shaped like a pear or a crushed teardrop, but its taste is nothing to cry about. On the contrary, the flesh is glossy and juicy, and they have a sweet, nutty taste and a chewy texture that makes it such a delight!

If you want to find an abundance of the most delicious figs, travel to Turkey, Egypt, Greece, or Morocco. Fresh as well as dried figs contain lots of good b-complex vitamins. They can be used for medicine and dessert.

Today’s Spiritual Fruit is Patience

Paul writes in Galatians 5:22 and 23: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

Dictionary.com defines patience as: “the quality of being patient, as the bearing of provocation, annoyance, misfortune, or pain, without complaint, loss of temper, irritation, or the like.” Also, “an ability or willingness to suppress restlessness or annoyance when confronted with delay.”

Wow! It would really be something if each one of us could live our lives within the boundaries of these definitions about patience. Think about it. The relationship between a husband and his wife, or a wife and her husband would be completely transformed if instead of complaining, losing their temper or being irritated about everything they could just be calm. Well, for one, there would be greater peace in our homes. Our children would have the joy and blessing of growing up in an environment without tension and anxiety. Wouldn’t that be something?

Imagine, that instead of parents yelling and screaming at their children because they are a little late on Sabbath morning, they would simply allow the sweet Spirit of God to give them the patience to respond calmly and with composure rather than being agitated or frantic and destroying the main reason for Sabbath? We know it is important to get to church on time, but even being on time could not be more important than exhibiting the Spirit of Jesus in our homes.

Yes, this fruit of love called patience is something to really pray for during Family Togetherness Week of Prayer. While some may think developing this kind of patience is impossible—based on their current family situations—we hasten to remind you what Jesus has to say about this kind of thinking: “With people it is impossible, but not with God;” Jesus says. “for all things are possible with God” (Mk 10:27).

The truth is, when we admit that we don’t have the capacity or power to respond with patience in difficult family situations, it is when God can perform the impossible on our behalf. We only need to call on Jesus, and He will fill us with His Spirit and produce the sweet fruit of patience in our lives. Then our family relationships and all other relationships will have the capacity to be transformed by the presence of the Spirit of God dwelling in our lives every day.

Ellen White’s counsel on patience is: “If impatient words are spoken to you, never reply in the same spirit” (Gospel Workers, p. 475). We are also reminded by the wise counsel of Scripture: “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Prov 15:1).

We pray you will allow the Spirit of God to help you develop greater patience in your response to the members of your family and to others. That regardless of how difficult the circumstances might be you will choose to “walk by the Spirit” (v. 16) instead of indulging “the deeds of the flesh,” (v. 19). This will ensure that your family interactions, and your relationship with everyone else, will be filled with God’s love and bring greater blessings to your home and to the church every day. So, Pick the fruit of patience today.

PRAY:

Dear Heavenly Father, we ask You to grant us patience today. Help us to practice patience in our homes each day. And may we remember to be patient with everyone we meet today. In Jesus’ name, amen.

FRUITFUL PATIENCE ACTIVITY

The Toothpick Challenges!

• Toothpick stack: Stand the bottle on the table. Use a jar with a wider mouth if you have younger children. Give each person 12 toothpicks (or use dried beans or small stones if you don’t have toothpicks). Take it in turns to lay a toothpick in a balanced pile on the mouth of the bottle. If any toothpicks fall off the bottle during your turn, add them to your pile. See who can place all their toothpicks safely on the bottle/jar mouth first.

• Toothpick drop: Stand the bottle on the table about 40 cm from the edge. Give each person 12 toothpicks. Take it in turns to sit down at the table in front of the bottle. Hold a toothpick of about 8-10 cm above the mouth of the bottle and try to drop the toothpick into the bottle. If it falls on the table, you keep the toothpick, and the turn passes to the next person. Use a jar for younger children, so that the task is easier for them to manage.

Other patience activities:

• Alternatively, do one of these activities together: make a jigsaw, build a construction kit together, plant some seeds, build a tower using only a pack of index cards, etc.

BIBLE VERSE ACTIVITY

You will Need:

• Scissors, newspaper or magazine, glue, and paper.

Instructions:

• This activity requires patience!

• Work on your own, or as a family, to make a mini poster of the memory verse.

• Find large letters in the newspaper or magazine.

• Cut them out so that each letter or number is on a separate rectangle of paper.

• Arrange the letters and numbers on a sheet of paper to spell out the verse and its reference, and then stick them down with glue.

• Add other pictures from the magazine or newspaper to decorate the poster.

• Place it where it will remind everyone in your home to be more patient – maybe on the bathroom door, inside the front door or in the kitchen!

QUESTIONS TO TALK ABOUT TOGETHER

• Patience is a fruit of the Spirit because…

• Jesus showed patience with others when…

• Other Bible characters who were patient were…

• I find it hardest to be patient when…

• Some things that help me to be patient are…

• One time that I was patient this week was when…

• We can help each other to be more patient by…

• Pray: Thank You, God, for helping us to be patient this week when…