Endurance

Heb. 12:1  Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin that so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us...

Endurance is necessary in order to be successful at racing.  It is the ability to bear pain and hardships, to continue or to last despite adverse conditions, fatigue or stress.

In high school, I remember having to run a mile in order to get a passing grade in gym class.  Three times around our stadium track.  Piece of cake...or so I thought.  I began the first lap with lots of energy, speed and with the best of intentions.  The slower second lap, however, felt as though I had somehow been invisibly weighted down.  The third, and final lap, even more so.  My endurance was being tested.  Fortunately, I was able to persevere and to finish.

Every race is begun with the best of intentions.  With the goal of finishing first and taking the prize.  With the expectation of performing at our best.  But inevitably, somewhere during the course of the race, we encounter obstacles, expected or unexpected.  Visible or invisible.  Opportunities to become weary and discouraged.  Those twists, turns or issues which confront us that we must push through in order to finish.  And it is by enduring that we will succeed.

As Christians, we have a course set before us.  An endurance race to run.  One, like any other race, with it's share of hardships, hindrances and hurts.  Opportunities to sin, to become weary and discouraged and even to quit.  We can be slowed down or even stopped completely by them.  But be encouraged by Paul (and me) and know that there are others who have gone before us and have endured.  More than perhaps we ever will.  And by One, in particular, who has endured more than us all.  He endured the punishment for our sin and an agonizing death on a cross (Heb. 12:2).  And finished the race.  How can it be done?  Endurance.


Sock Monkey Snippet:  By enduring, we will succeed.

How Long?

Ps. 13:1, 2  How long, O Lord?  Will You forget me forever?  How long will You hide Your face from me?  How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily?  How long will my enemy be exalted over me?

Ever felt like God has forgotten you or at least turned His face away?  Ever felt like He didn't care or wasn't concerned about you?  Ever felt like the enemy was winning?  Well, you're in good company.  David felt the same way.  Here he asks God repeatedly, "How Long?".  How long are these trials and suffering going to continue?  Did You forget me?  Don't You care?  Why is the enemy winning?  A short time enduring trials and suffering can seem like an eternity.  Feelings of anxiety, desperation and hopelessness overwhelm us.  David expresses them here.

At some point in our lives, our circumstances can cause us to lose faith and ask the same questions borne out of our troubling situation that David did.  It is then, difficult as it is, that we must walk by faith and not by our sight or our feelings (2Cor. 5:7).

Remember when Peter was asked by Jesus to step out of the boat and come to Him?  It was only when Peter took his eyes of faith off of Jesus and looked at the stormy circumstances around him (Mt. 14:30) that he began to sink.  Jesus never lost sight of Peter.  Peter lost sight of Jesus.

David (v. 3) asked God to "enlighten his eyes".  To allow him to see by faith.  To see God even in the darkness of a storm.  God, enlighten our eyes, too.  May we never lose sight of You during our storm.

God will never forget us (Isa. 49:14-16, Mt. 28:20).  God cares for us (1Pet. 5:7).  And so long as we don't quit, we can and will overcome any circumstances or any enemy.  We are more than conquerors (Rom. 8:37).  In the midst of our storm of trials and suffering, we must keep our eyes of faith focused on the Author and the Finisher of it (Heb. 12:2).  No matter how long!


Sock Monkey Snippet:  Have focused faith not fearful feelings.

Follow Me

Mt. 16:24  Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me."

For most of us, networking on the Internet has become a part of our everyday life.  And in this social environment, we are invited by other to "follow me".  Making the choice to accept such an invitation usually involves little more than the click of a button.  The commitment to become a follower (disciple) is painlessly easy.

Jesus invites anyone to become His follower but it is important for us all to understand exactly what He says is required.  This is a free will choice that we make.  We can either accept His invitation or refuse it.

First, we must deny ourselves.  Other Bible translations say give up all (BBE) and forget about yourself (CEV).  This certainly goes against our human nature.  To be self-emptying instead of self -seeking.  To put the will of God before our own.  And yet Christ's life was exactly so.  He emptied Himself (Phil. 2:7, 8).  In doing so, He not only set an example for us but also purchased our redemption.  We must totally surrender to God's will, putting it before our own.  Faced with death by crucifixion, Jesus prayed, "not what I will, but what You will."

Second, we must take up our cross.  There will be sufferings and afflictions that will surely come our way and we should expect and endure them.  No matter how painful.  Jesus said (Mt. 10:38) if we are not willing to take up our cross and follow Him, we are not worthy of Him.  Taking up our cross is far from being a painlessly easy process.  It wasn't easy for Jesus either.

Being a follower (disciple) of Jesus is an everyday, life long commitment.  Nothing that can be effortlessly accomplished by the click of a button or any other one-time event.  It requires surrendering to His will and suffering for His glory.  Sheep follow their Shepherd.  Servants follow their Master.  Soldiers follow their Captain.

The next time you click the "follow me button online, ask yourself, "Am I following Him?"


Sock Monkey Snippet:  Surrender to His will and suffer for His glory.

Consider Him

Heb. 12:3  For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.

The sufferings of Christ were excruciating.  When we are told to consider (analogizomai) Him, we are to analogize or compare His sufferings to our own.  Obviously, there is no comparison.  But the perfect example of Christ's endurance is also worthy of consideration.

Enduring is having the ability to continue despite fatigue, stress, pain or hardship.  It is persevering or resisting no matter how tired and discouraged we become.

In Jesus' life, that endurance reached the point where He shed His blood (v.4) striving against (resisting) sin.  I dare say that will not be required of most of us.  How much more then should we be willing and able to endure our daily trials and resist sin in the race set before us (v.1) when we make the comparison of our sufferings to His?  We must stay strong, be encouraged by His example of endurance and not give up in our Christian life no matter how tired or stressed out we may be.  For in due season, we shall reap if we don't lose heart (Gal. 6:9).

Sock Monkey Snippet:  Consider what Jesus endured and don't give up.