Monday, 9 July 2018

Endurance

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Endurance - if there is one quality that seems to be lacking in our modern society it is endurance or stick-a-bility. All too often, in a marriage, in a situation at work, in a new job, people choose to bail out, to give up and walk away.

This is not the way of the cross - Yeshua didn't bail out on the disciples when the going got tough, He didn't give up on the crowds or the Pharisees when they didn't understand or tried to trip Him up, He didn't walk away from the cross when it was going to cost His life; He kept going, He endured the shame (Hebrew 12:2) and fulfilled the mission His Father has set before Him. Rav Sha'ul endured lashes, being beaten with rods, shipwreck, hunger, thirst, cold and nakedness (2 Corinthians 11:24-27) in order to present the gospel to as many people as possible.

What about us? James tells us that those who endure are blessed (James 5:11) - well that's good, we all like a blessing. But is that all? Speaking to the church in Philadelphia, Yeshua says, "Because you have kept My commend to persevere, I will also keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth" (Revelation 3:10). That's probably a deal we'd all like to have. But here's the key. Later in Revelation, John tells us that "those who are called, chosen and faithful will overcome along with the Lamb" (17:14).

We must be faithful to our calling; that means enduring and standing firm, not giving up and not walking out. He is faithful and will not leave us - let us be faithful and not leave Him.