Perseverance: February 12, 2010

FEBRUARY 12. TODAYS WORD FOR FRIDAY FEBRUARY 12, 2010

PERSEVERANCE

DEFINITION:

Persist in something undertaken in spite of difficulties, discouragement and hardship.

SCRIPTURE:

“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.” Ephesians 6:18.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

If anyone should be held up as an example of what it means to persevere in spite of hardships it was the apostle Paul. Paul knew what it meant to suffer and be persecuted. For the first century Christian persecution was the norm rather than the exception. In Paul’s writings he gives words of instruction and encouragement concerning perseverance that he has learned from experience. In his letter to the Christians in Rome he writes that he rejoices in his sufferings. Do you wonder how that this was true? What he was telling the believers at the church in Rome was that he found out that his sufferings produced perseverance which developed his character which led him to put his hope and trust in God.

Paul in his letters to Timothy shows that he was a man with strong emotions. As a Jew he hated the Christians and persecuted them unmercifully. After his conversion to Christianity he became not only a man of passion but also a man of great compassion.

Paul selected Timothy as a very young man to become his assistant. The last letter that Paul wrote was to Timothy and it was written while he was alone in prison and he knew that he would soon die. In spite of his dire circumstances, Paul persevered and continued his ministry because he wanted to make sure Timothy and others were prepared to carry on in his place. Paul’s last words to Timothy were compassionate words of encouragement and preparation.

In 11 Timothy 3:10-15, Paul is instructing Timothy to prepare for the challenges that he will face in preaching the Word. Paul first of all tells Timothy to persevere in studying the Word of God so that he will be fully equipped to teach others. He reminds Timothy of all that he (Paul) had endured in his ministry and warns Timothy and everyone else who lives a Godly life that they will endure hardship. He encourages Timothy to continue on even though Paul foresees that the evil in this world will only get worse.

You can determine the character of a man by what it takes to make him quit. We have encouraged our children to stay with a commitment until it is completed. This sometimes takes great perseverance but must be adhered too. Many people today get involved in a project and then walk away from it. When a child is taught at an early age to stick with a project until it is completed that child, as he gets older, will show great perseverance in every activity he or she is involved in.

Winston Churchill said: “Never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never ---to anything great or small, large or petty --- never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense.

As the apostle Paul has warned us, we can expect persecution and discouragement when we are trying to serve the Lord. It is easy to decide that it is just not worth it and just give up. Paul encourages us to be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus and trust in His power and not on our own. God alone can give us the strength to persevere through every hardship we face in life today.

We are receiving many notes from wonderful Christians in countries far from us who are going through persecution today and are persevering. Please let us all pray daily for these our Christian brothers and sisters.

As we look back on our lives there have been numerous times that we have wanted to quit. But if we had made a commitment to a worthy project and the projects end is in sight, we never quit. In fact we cannot remember one time that we have backed out of a project that we have committed to do. The will to persevere is often the difference between failure and success. Nothing in the world can take the place of perseverance. Talent will not, genius will not, education will not; but persistence and determination will.

This is contrasted with the possible time that one may have where they were involved in a project and everyone that was in that project agreed that it would not work, then stopping and going another direction is proper.

Are you discouraged today and close to quitting? Let us assure you that victory lies ahead of you if you will only persevere to the end. If you are not giving all you can PLUS using what God has made available to you, then you will not persevere.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in Proverbs 3:5-6:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths.

PRAYER:

Give me the fortitude and desire to complete each project that I am involved in. May Your strength sustain me when I feel like giving up. May Your Holy Spirit strengthen my resolve to carry on.