Persevere!

"Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners,

so that you will not grow weary

and lose heart."

Hebrews 12:3

No good deed goes unpunished.  Hmmmpphh. . . I know why they say that!  I thought as I walked away from the house.  I was just trying to help, but they act like I'm their worst enemy.  Sheesh!  What did I ever do to them that they should be so cruel?

The world is filled with people just like you and me, sinners to the core, but they do not have the benefit of knowing Jesus.  Without the grace and mercy available through Christ, I would be just as hard-hearted and cynical as the mean and difficult people I run into on a regular basis.

Living in a world surrounded by many who don't understand His grace, I can expect to have much trouble. (John 16:33)  After all, the way God is calling me to live runs counter to the world's ways, and those who are lost will not understand my lifestyle. (1 Corinthians 1:18) 

This is a formula for discouragement if I ever heard it!  Thankfully, there is a way to continue on in the face of such sin and harsh treatment.

Weary

He was tired to the bone.  This prophet had served the Lord in many powerful ways and had seen the work of God's mighty hand, but what did he have to show for it?  The most evil and powerful woman in the region was out to get him, that's what!  And so he ran. . . and now, as he lay under a pitiful broom tree out in the middle of nowhere, he moaned, "I've had enough.  Take me now, Lord, I'm as good as dead."  (paraphrased from 1 Kings 19:4)

I've felt like Elijah at times, weary of this world and all the trouble that comes with it.  While no one has tried to take my life, many have attempted to suck the life out of me with their harsh words, superior attitudes and bitter opposition.  It's easy to grow jaded in the face of such disappointment and opposition. 

Living in a fallen world where sin and selfishness rule, weariness comes naturally.

Despondent

It's not just weariness, however, to which I fall prey.  Sometimes I'm like a certain prophet who grew angry that God didn't destroy the evil people of Ninevah.  After all, they deserved it!  They were some of the most malevolent people known for their bloody killings and terrorist tendencies.  But God, out of His great love and mercy, sent Jonah to warn them of their impending doom unless they repented of their ways.

And repent they did!  The entire nation turned to God, mourning their coming demise.  Even the king issued a decree that everyone turn from their evil ways and stop their violence with the hope that God would spare their lives.  (Jonah 3)  Jonah, however, did not rejoice with this turn of events.  Instead, his pride led him to resent that God would extend the same mercy shown him to these wicked people.

When I don't understand the wickedness of my own sinful heart, I effortlessly fall into this same attitude of despondency.  If I am living for Christ and so many around me are not, shouldn't I be the one to receive all the good things from God?

But only God has the right to decide upon whom His mercy will fall. (Romans 9:14-16)  It is my job to love those He sends my way, despite their sinful ways.

Living in a fallen world where wickedness reigns, I can easily lose heart by the seemingly unfairness of it all.

Remember

He endured ridicule, the scorn of many, the harsh blow of many whips and the cruel adornment of a crown of thorns, not to mention the humiliation of a criminal's trial followed by the sentence of a villian's death.  There is no doubt that Jesus suffered much at the hands of sinful men.

Keeping His sacrifice in mind, then, I soon realize my own predicament is not so bad.   I also can consider the fact that I am not alone in my sufferings for Jesus understands better than anyone.  Furthermore, I am far from innocent myself, truly deserving the kind of treatment Jesus experienced as a result of my sin but that He willingly bore for my sake.

Retaining a proper perspective, turning to Jesus for comfort and a reality check, and remembering who I am without the cleansing blood of Jesus will help me to keep a godly attitude and carry on.

Living in a fallen world where I can easily fall into the role of martyr, it's important for me to remember what Jesus has gone through.

There is no sense sugar-coating it:  This world is headed to hell in a handbasket!  Sin runs rampant and I constantly collide into it's effects everywhere I go.  Because of this, it's easy to grow weary of the battle and fall into despair when my kind of justice is not served.  The key to persevering, however, is to remember what Jesus suffered on my behalf, how he understands my predicament, and who I truly am without Him.  With this kind of attitude, I can keep going another day!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can keep my eyes focused on Jesus instead of the sin all around me.

How do I develop an attitude of judgment when dealing with the ramifications of sin in others?

When am I most vulnerable to giving up?   

Neglected Gifts

"Do not neglect your gift, 

which was given you through prophecy 

when the body of elders laid their hands on you.

Be diligent in these matters;

give yourself wholly to them,

so that everyone may see your progress.

Watch your life and doctrine closely.

Persevere in them,

because if you do,

you will save both yourself and your hearers."

1 Timothy 4:14-16

Warm spring temperatures generated an explosion of growth.  The blueberry bushes and fruit trees were filled with blossoms, bees busily humming from bloom to bloom.  New leaves were bursting forth all around, making our yard suddenly green with new life.  The neglect of the winter, however, showed in the weeds that overpowered the garden; so much so that I could barely make out the tiny sprigs of leaf lettuce struggling to reach the sunlight.

Even a week of unhampered growth can render a garden out of control.  In order to stay on top of the influx of invaders, I must be vigilant in my work.  It is the same with my life of faith.  There are gifts that God has given to me that are meant to be used to edify the Body of Christ.  If I neglect them, however, and don't use them as they were meant to be used, they grow flaccid and are then wasted.

Diligence

Female bees are hard workers.  They never stop toiling, but are constantly busy either producing wax to make their combs, laying eggs and caring for the young inside the cells of these structures, guarding the entrance to the hive, using their wings to cool their home, or collecting nectar to make honey.  These insects work carefully and persistently to fulfill their purpose.

I can learn a lesson from the honeybee!  Instead of drifting through life, letting circumstances and situations guide my direction, I can take the initiative to purposefully work toward living out my purpose.  When I give myself wholeheartedly to what God has called me to do, whether it be to encourage, to serve, to teach, or to act in faith, people will see the hand of God and praise Him for all He is doing.

My diligence in using my gifts brings glory to God.

Watch

"God doesn't give me more than I can handle."

"God helps those who help themselves."

"Cleanliness is next to godliness."

"I'm too blessed to be stressed."

These are some common sayings that have crept into our belief system but are not based on biblical truth.  It is easy to adopt a principle that sounds good and seems right, but the danger is a slow slide away from the solid ground of the Word of God.

If I am to guard myself from buying into false teachings that come in the form of folklore, traditions and pop psychology, I must carefully pay attention to the truth as God teaches in His Word, testing every new belief against the scriptures.  When I do this, I find that God won't tempt me beyond what I can bear (1 Corinthians 10:13) but He regularly tests me with situations that are more than I can handle so I must rely on Him.  (2 Corinthians 12:9, Matthew 11:28-30)

As I keep His Word always on my mind I find that He doesn't help those who rely on their own abilities and resources but instead gives strength to those who wait on Him (Isaiah 40:31).  Another truth I remember is that instead of placing the pursuit of cleanliness upon such a high pedestal, God places contentment there, saying it in itself is 'great wealth.' (1 Timothy 6:6-11)

Finally, stress is the pressure I feel that is a common part of living in a fallen world.  To claim I'm too blessed to feel the effects of this anxiety or tension seems to come from pride that says I will rise above it.  Instead, Jesus reminds me that I will have trouble in this world but that I can take heart from the fact that He has overcome it all. (John 16:33)  I am more than a conqueror because of what Jesus has done, not because I have a strong will.

Carefully guarding against wrong beliefs so my gifts are used wisely brings glory to God.

Persevere

One of my favorite summer pastimes during my teen years was to take an inner tube and float down a nearby river.  The water felt cool on my sun-kissed skin, the trees provided shade from the scorching sun and the birds serenaded me as I traveled without any effort on my part.  Drifting on a lazy river is relaxing.

Drifting in my walk with the Lord, however, leads me further and further away from Him.  It's easy to start slacking off, holding the attitude that I've checked off all "my duties" for the day so now I can let my mind wander to fleshly pleasures, or give myself a break from seeking holiness, or take a vacation from holding my tongue.

The moment I let up moving toward Christ, I begin moving away from Him and let my spiritual gifts atrophy.  It's important that I persevere in doing what God is calling me to do so that my heart won't begin to look like my garden that was quickly overcome with weeds.  

Perseverance in using my gifts drives me closer to God and brings glory to Him.

A moment of waywardness can lead to a lifetime of grief.  Instead of trying to do damage control, a little prevention is just what's needed.  To preserve the gifts God has given me, I must use them with all diligence, guard them against being tainted by false teachings, and persevere in using them regularly.  In this way, I won't neglect these gifts of the Spirit.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can pay attention to what I'm placing in my memory stores.

How do I easily believe the things that others say without checking it against the Truth of scripture?

When do I fail to use my gifts?

Finish Well

"And now,

compelled by the Spirit,

I am going to Jerusalem,

not knowing what will happen to me there.

I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me

that prison and hardships are facing me.

However,

I consider my life worth nothing to me,

if only I may finish the race

and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me--

the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace."

Acts 20:22-24

I remember a friend of mine saying to herself, "Run it through the finish line, Holly" as a way to encourage herself to keep going and to not give up.  There's so much wisdom in this sermon-to-self.

Life is hard and its oh-so-easy to give up living for Jesus.  It is then that I need to hear, "Keep it up!  Run strong through to the end." (James 12:1-2)

The world is evil and the darkness feels overwhelming.  It sometimes seems like Evil is winning.  It is then that I need to hear, "Stand firm!  Jesus has overcome the world!"  (John 16:33)

Sometimes it seems I keep falling into the same sin over and over again.  I may ask myself, what's the use?  I'll just fail again.  It is then that I need to hear that Jesus gives me power over sin and death and that His grace is sufficient to propel me forward, into the light.  (1 Corinthians 15:56-58) 

As I prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus, it is my intention to keep in mind His reason for coming to the earth He created: To save sinners.  As a sinner saved by His grace, it is for the joy set before me that I can persevere and run it through the finish line, knowing that Jesus will complete what He started in my life, no matter what I feel or how things look. (Philippians 1:6)

My call is to finish well!  (Hebrews 12:1-2)