Good Morning Everyone,
Our theme for this month: “Trusting God”
Our Bible verse for today: “For you need endurance, so that after you have done God’s will, you may receive what was promised.” Hebrews 10:36 (HCSB)
Our thought for today: “Trust God to help you persevere”
Author Jerry Bridges writes, “Perseverance is the quality of character that enables one to pursue a goal in spite of obstacles and difficulties. It’s one thing to simply bear up under adversity. This in itself is commendable. But the Christian life is meant to be active, not passive. We’re called to diligently pursue God’s will. He calls us to do more than simply bear the load of adversity; He calls us to persevere (to press forward) in the face of it.”
God wants us to live well in spite of obstacles and difficulties. He wants us to “run with endurance” (Hebrews 12:1). This is a theme many of the New Testament writers addressed including Paul (Romans 5:3) and James (James 1:3). In Paul’s case he portrays endurance and perseverance as part of a growing process that makes us stronger and more mature. Similar to an exercise program that progressively results in bigger and stronger muscles, perseverance makes us stronger in character, it gives us confidence to face future difficulties, and it makes us more spiritually mature.
The Christian life has often been compared to a marathon race. That’s a good metaphor in that it expresses the long-term nature of the effort and the endurance required to complete it. But as Jerry Bridges observed, “The Christian life could be better described as an obstacle course of marathon length.”
Imagine a marathon twenty-six miles long but instead of a long flat course it includes walls to climb, streams to forge, hedges to jump over, and mean dogs chasing after you (demons). That description probably better captures the essence of the Christian life. This stuff isn’t for sissies.
However we’re not necessarily talking about strong physical bodies and physical fitness here. This is spiritual. It’s about strong faith and spiritual maturity and while it may be found in a physically fit twenty-five year old athlete, we’ll more likely see it in a seventy-five year old grandmother who has lived a long life of faithfulness filled with good spiritual disciplines. Sandwiched between his calls for perseverance and endurance in Hebrews 10:36 and 12:1, the writer included an entire chapter on faith, Hebrews 11. It’s strong faith that enables and empowers perseverance and endurance.
Perseverance and endurance are essential elements of the Christian life lived well. Through faith and obedience you can trust God to help you achieve it.
God Bless,
Pastor Jim
Oak Hill Baptist Church 