Endurance. Thankfully, enduring unto the end need only be done on a daily basis. I do not have to endure whatever tomorrow may bring because it is not here yet--and may never come. And often the things He needs me to endure for His Name's sake tomorrow are not even the things I was expecting. Endurance feels like an impossibility when I project it into an unknown future. That's why He calls me to "take no thought for tomorrow"--but, rather, seek first the kingdom of God today.
Endurance becomes especially difficult as well when I forget its purpose: to glorify Him. I am called to show the world that in the most difficult times--or in the seemingly "not so difficult" times--that knowing Him is enough. In all things I can display the strength that He provides me, the joy that He places in my soul, the beauty that I have found in those difficult times that I could not have discovered anywhere else or in any other way. I have found that those difficult times that need endurance have been the times that have enriched me with the deepest sense of His presence and the full evidence of His care for me. I would not know Him as I know Him now without those struggles to endure. Which means, of course, that I would not love Him as I love Him now without those challenges. Which means, of course, that my obedience to Him would still be mired in duty instead of in the genuine, spontaneous obedience that grows out of a sense of His love for me.
And I have found that in those times when He promises me that I can lean on Him and His strength that He has sent His other sons and daughters into my life to be a tangible shoulder to lean on, to be a listening ear, to be His love for me, to be an example to follow as I see them following Christ in the midst of their own times of endurance. As I gather together with other believers as He tells me to do, they become my encouragers to continue on in the good deeds of love that He has called me to do. They reflect His love for me in their love for me. Endurance unites the body of Christ in faithfulness to Him--and each other.
Endure hardship as a good soldier of the Savior. Clasp arms with His fellow soldiers that He has sent into your life to encourage you to press on toward the high calling of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Run the race with endurance exulting in His love, saturated with His joy, encouraging and being encouraged by your fellow runners on the journey Home.
Endurance becomes especially difficult as well when I forget its purpose: to glorify Him. I am called to show the world that in the most difficult times--or in the seemingly "not so difficult" times--that knowing Him is enough. In all things I can display the strength that He provides me, the joy that He places in my soul, the beauty that I have found in those difficult times that I could not have discovered anywhere else or in any other way. I have found that those difficult times that need endurance have been the times that have enriched me with the deepest sense of His presence and the full evidence of His care for me. I would not know Him as I know Him now without those struggles to endure. Which means, of course, that I would not love Him as I love Him now without those challenges. Which means, of course, that my obedience to Him would still be mired in duty instead of in the genuine, spontaneous obedience that grows out of a sense of His love for me.
And I have found that in those times when He promises me that I can lean on Him and His strength that He has sent His other sons and daughters into my life to be a tangible shoulder to lean on, to be a listening ear, to be His love for me, to be an example to follow as I see them following Christ in the midst of their own times of endurance. As I gather together with other believers as He tells me to do, they become my encouragers to continue on in the good deeds of love that He has called me to do. They reflect His love for me in their love for me. Endurance unites the body of Christ in faithfulness to Him--and each other.
Endure hardship as a good soldier of the Savior. Clasp arms with His fellow soldiers that He has sent into your life to encourage you to press on toward the high calling of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Run the race with endurance exulting in His love, saturated with His joy, encouraging and being encouraged by your fellow runners on the journey Home.
Endure. Unto the end.
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