Category: perseverance

Military leaders, coaches, and teachers know the power of the spoken word. One statement, one command, one word can reverberate through a platoon or a team or a class and be the difference between success and failure. “The Word who became flesh” often spoke a message He wants all believers to take to heart: ‘Watch out’… ‘Be alert’… ‘Keep your eyes open’… ‘‘Be vigilant!’

There are two main contexts for such words of warning:

1. ‘Beware of the enemy.’ Guards are posted at night to prevent surprise attacks; coaches scout and watch film to learn tendencies of the opponent; teachers warn of common mistakes… vigilance is critical. Jesus says we have an enemy that plots, tempts, and attacks His followers.Though we have a Good Shepherd who will not let His sheep be snatched from His hand, the sheep must listen to His voice and heed His warnings. “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail.” (Luke 22:31-32) Thank God, Jesus also intercedes for us! (see Hebrews 7:25)

   “Be careful,” Jesus warned, “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.” (Mark 8:15) Today He might say: ‘Watch out for the subtle dangers of religion and politics.’ “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” (Luke 12:15) Today He might ask if we are laying up treasure on earth or in heaven… Jesus knows every weapon the devil throws against God’s children and He tells us to be vigilant.

2. ‘Keep watch for Me.’ “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on your guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch. Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back – whether in the evening or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’” (Mark 13:32-37)

The enemy is as active today as ever… We are now nearer to the return of Jesus than ever… ‘Vigilance!’

“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion seeking whom He may devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” I Peter 5:8-9

“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” Colossians 4:2

“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be strong. Do everything in love.” I Corinthians 16:13

Lewis is my name and I recently turned my life over to Christ. My wife Sarah saw the huge change in me and decided to put her faith in Jesus also. Our two young children now have parents who are trying their best to be the mom and dad, and the wife and husband, God wants us to be. We are far from perfect, but we both feel so blessed to be on the same journey of faith, hope, and love.

But this journey is being met with resistance. Sarah’s family has basically disowned her and we have faced a host of other challenges. Reading the Bible helps us understand that there is a battle being fought in the spiritual world that is very real. All children of God have a ruthless enemy who hates to see a person or a family dedicate itself to the Lord and His ways.

Individually, I’ve sensed Satan’s desire to simply get me to retreat from faith and return to a life of ‘calling my own shots.’ So my prayer is to recognize his crafty ways, and for God, who has all power, to make me good soil. I do not want to be the hard path, or the rocky soil, or the thorny ground where ‘life’ is choked out. I want to bear fruit for the One who saved me. (see Mark 4:1-20)

Remembering the power of prayer and the Person of the Holy Spirit who lives in us, I must ‘resist the devil’ and know he will eventually flee. The life of the child of God (or the family of God) is no joke. Satan constantly schemes… but “greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world.”

I need my focus to be on our Good Shepherd who has rescued His sheep and will not be defeated. No one can snatch us out of His hand! He gives peace in the midst of the storm. He whispers: ‘Joy comes in the morning’ and encourages us to persevere. He says perseverance must be learned for us to become mature.

I long to be a mature husband, a mature father, a mature disciple of Christ… who lives by faith. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” If difficulty comes, I must choose to trust, obey… and persevere.

Though He has given us salvation and every spiritual blessing, God seems to choose to let suffering take place in the lives of His children. Though we are young in the faith, Sarah and I confess that our trials have actually led to more dependence on God. If Jesus “learned obedience from what He suffered,” should we be any different?

What did Jesus mean when He said anyone who follows Him must “take up his cross daily”? Peter wrote: “If you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His steps.” I don’t have all the answers, but such Scriptures help us understand that our blessed life in Christ will not always be easy. I am asking God for grace to be faithful… no matter what.

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2-3

“That day when evening came, He said to His disciples. ‘Let us go to the other side.’ Leaving the crowd behind, they took Him along just as He was, in the boat. There were other boats with Him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke Him and said to Him, ‘Teacher, don’t You care if we drown?’ He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, ‘Peace! Be still!’ Then the waves died down and it was completely calm. He then said to His disciples, ‘Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?’” (Mark 4:35-40)

There are at least two ways Jesus miraculously brings peace. In this story, He stood, rebuked the wind and said: “Peace! Be still!” The surrounding nature obeyed Him… bringing astonishment to the frightened disciples. “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey Him!” (Mark 4:41)

God has ability to say: “Peace! Be still!” to any of our storms… tragedy, sickness, conflict, loss… I imagine we have all experienced God’s power to change circumstances and bring His ‘shalom.’ Like the disciples, we marvel and say: “Who is this with such authority? Thank You for Your mercy! Thank You for bringing peace!”

But there is another miracle Jesus often chooses. “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27) Perhaps their lack of faith was a factor, but Jesus could have performed a different miracle on the Sea of Galilee.

Jesus had been sleeping during the storm. His heart was not troubled and He was not afraid when His friends woke Him. If God had willed, Jesus could have spoken to His disciples instead of the storm: “Here – receive My ‘shalom.’ Now, don’t let your hearts be troubled… and quit being afraid. We’ve got a busy day tomorrow… why don’t you lie down and get some sleep?”

I probably pray most for exterior peace… but Jesus also has authority over the interior. I would rather the storm calm and problems go away while Jesus knows His inner peace is more than sufficient to help me endure and conquer any chaos.

If Jesus gives me His peace, I need to obey His words: “Don’t let your heart be troubled and don’t be afraid.” Someone might say: “That is impossible!” True, by ourselves… but we’re talking about the supernatural. Jesus’ peace is not like the world’s… and it does not come from us. Jesus simply wants us to know He possesses this power. He wants us to receive His gift and live accordingly. With child-like faith and with His grace, we can do it.

“I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

In my early days of coaching, David Copeland was one of our young basketball players. As he grew up and has become a husband and father, David has encouraged our son Taylor in many ways. They both love to fish, so most of the mentoring has taken place in a boat. This past week, David’s dad died of cancer after having been diagnosed this past summer.

Jim Copeland accomplished incredible things in his lifetime. He was a standout athlete in high school and college. He became an accountant and was eventually named CEO of Deloitte, one of the top accounting firms in the world. With an uncanny ability to analyze information and make wise decisions, he was asked to serve on many boards, including Coca-Cola, Equifax, United Way International, and the 9/11 Memorial Fund which raised over 400 million dollars for the families of those who died in the attack. A few years after retiring at the age of fifty-eight, Jim and two partners bought B.A.S.S., the world authority on bass fishing, from ESPN and turned the organization around. He rubbed shoulders with presidents of nations and secretaries of state and famous people around the globe, but the things highlighted at his funeral were what mattered most to him… faith, family, and friends.

David shared memories of his dad from his childhood and the special times they enjoyed in his fourteen years of retirement. Helping the poor was a priority for his father. Jim loved God’s Word and taught Sunday school and led Bible studies for over forty years. David spoke of his dad’s passion after cancer diagnosis to make sure all relationships with people were in good order, to love everyone, and to share Jesus with all.

Instead of promoting Jim’s many achievements, a writing by David’s thirteen-year-old daughter was printed on the inside cover of the funeral program. It was entitled Hero; here are a few lines:

• “An example of a hero in my life is my grandfather; he is a true fighter and believer.”
• “I have never met anyone so passionate and caring towards people.”
• “Even with cancer his heart is ablaze for people and his heart for Jesus is a burning wild fire.”
• “My grandfather is a true hero and I aspire to be just like him.”

When those that know you best see Jesus at work in your life, there is wonderful fruit. I told David how proud I was of the way he honored his father. He reminded me that his dad often prayed for me, then added, “Now he is in that ‘great cloud of witnesses.’” May we be encouraged by those who use their talents for God’s glory and may we all run our race well.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” Hebrews 12:1-2

“For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure… Do your best to come to me quickly, for Demus, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful in my ministry. I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments. Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done. You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message. At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them.” (II Timothy 4:6, 9-16)

I think if I were Paul I would have asked God a couple of questions: “So Lord, is this the way it was supposed to end? Me sitting in prison with only a few loyal friends, realizing that so many have either deserted or betrayed me? Who is going to want to walk in my path?”

And God might have replied: “You have been faithful, Paul, to walk Jesus’ path… and that is what you are inviting others to do. Remember, you wanted to know My Son. It is quite a blessing to experience His power, but you also asked to know Him in His sufferings… and there you have found a different type of blessing. You have fellowship with My Son! And just as I poured Him out to the world, so I am pouring Him through you… to those that accept Me and to those who don’t. You’ve followed the Risen One and others have been blessed. Rejoice! You’ll be with Us soon!”

Oswald Chambers once wrote: “Our Lord’s teaching is always anti-self-realization. His purpose is not the development of a man; His purpose is to make a man exactly like Himself, and the characteristic of the Son of God is self-expenditure. If we believe in Jesus, it is not what we gain, but what He pours through us that counts. It is not that God makes us beautifully rounded grapes, but that He squeezes the sweetness out of us. Spiritually, we cannot measure our life by success, but only what God pours through us, and we cannot measure that at all.”

“But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ – the righteousness that is from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.” (Philippians 3:7-11)

Quote from “My Utmost For His Highest” by Oswald Chambers; ©1935 by Dodd, Mead, and Company, Inc.; p 508