TODAY’S WORD FOR THURSDAY JANUARY 5, 2017.
PERSEVERANCE
DEFINITION:
Patient endurance of hardship; effort maintained in spite of difficulties.
Tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Romans 5:3-4.
Have you ever watched a bird try to build a nest in a tree? What about a squirrel digging a hole to bury a nut? It is painstaking work and takes perseverance, but the bird and squirrel always seem to persevere. Sometimes strong winds blow the nest away for the bird or someone digs where the squirrel stored the nut but the bird and the squirrel seem to never give up and soon begin the process all over again.
This perseverance can be inspiring to the person who watches. You can almost catch yourself cheering for the bird or the squirrel because it is a huge project and yet they do not stop until the job is done.
Contrasting these two illustrations with Christians today trying to live a Christ-honoring life reminds us how frustrated and discouraged many get. As believers in Jesus we need to learn how to persevere in doing the things that God wants us to do. Many people today are facing insurmountable hardships such as the loss of a job, the loss of a home or broken families. The world is in great turmoil. But God does not want us to give up. He wants us to persevere.
Satan is alive and well in this sinful world. We can expect trouble and tribulation, especially as a believer. In times of difficulty it is easy to think that God has forgotten us. This is not the case. God never forgets us. Often when times are good it is we who tend to forget God. When times are tough, that is the time that many believers seem to look to God to help them through their difficulties.
Difficulties are sometimes of our own making. Some are not. Whatever the cause God often uses them to get our attention and to draw us closer to Him.
We all need to remember whether our situations are good or bad, God will empower us to keep on going even when we cannot see the resolution of our problems. In many situations God is using a seemingly insurmountable challenge in our life to produce perseverance. And as the verse says, that we have written above, perseverance will produce in us character and through character, hope.
The Apostle Paul reminds us in Galatians 6:9 not to grow “weary while doing good for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Paul then goes on to tell us not to give up. We are to persevere in everything we do and put all that we are going through in His hands and He will get us through every situation. Paul knew from experience that if we persevere and we do not give up, in due time we will reap a harvest of blessing.
When others around you suggest that you give up on a situation do not let them discourage you. Put everything in God’s hands then hope will whisper to you, “Try one more time.” Try it and we can assure you God will not fail you.
Our memory verse for this week is found in Psalm 9:17.
The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all nations that forget God.
Help me get through the trials that I may face today that may burden me down and tempt me to consider giving up. Give me perseverance to overcome strife and keep me faithful to You. Thank You for the assurance that I have that with Christ I can have victory and that Satan cannot defeat me.
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