Matthew 24:12-13 NLT
Have you ever committed to a competition that required endurance training if there was to be any hope of even finishing, let alone winning? Endurance training is gruesome. You push to your very limit and then push some more. In fact, usually for endurance training, someone else is pushing you because they don't want to hear, "I can't..." And then a month or so into it, you're DOING what you could only hope you could do at the start. And you keep pushing, and keep going, and keep enduring. Why? Because you want what's at the end of the line. You press toward the prize. I know you know where I'm going with this.
James tells us in chapter 1, verses 2&3 NLT, Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. If you have known me for very long, you have heard me say, "What doesn't kill us only makes us stronger." I believe that. There have been times in my life when it seemed like it would be a whole lot easier to die than to endure. But God would get me through that, and because of the endurance training I received during that trial, I would be able to endure the next, bigger, tougher situation.
However, I can't say that I've ever been ecstatic or enthusiastic about trials and tribulations. I wasn't looking ahead - I wasn't looking to the hills where my help comes from. I wasn't looking to the Author and Finisher of our faith who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. (Hebrews 12) Endured! Christ looked PAST the Cross to the joy that was set before Him.
The writer of Hebrews encourages us in 10:35-36, So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will.
Just as God for the sake of the Cross looks beyond our frail, human nature so that Jesus can receive us unto Himself, so must we look beyond the trials and tribulations and patiently endure them so that we can continue to do the Father's will no matter what comes our way. It is in the patient endurance that we move into the position to be ready to receive all that He has promised.
C'mon! We're almost there! You can make it! It's not that much longer. Go for the gold - streets of gold!
Prayer:
Father,
Your Word promises that You are the Lifter of our heads. Hold us up so we can see over this to the promise of eternity with You where there are no more tears. No more pain. No more separation. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
The writer of Hebrews encourages us in 10:35-36, So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will.
Just as God for the sake of the Cross looks beyond our frail, human nature so that Jesus can receive us unto Himself, so must we look beyond the trials and tribulations and patiently endure them so that we can continue to do the Father's will no matter what comes our way. It is in the patient endurance that we move into the position to be ready to receive all that He has promised.
C'mon! We're almost there! You can make it! It's not that much longer. Go for the gold - streets of gold!
Prayer:
Father,
Your Word promises that You are the Lifter of our heads. Hold us up so we can see over this to the promise of eternity with You where there are no more tears. No more pain. No more separation. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
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