I’M taking another aside today before proceeding on with our study in Part 5 of The Complete Green Letters, A Guide to Spiritual Growth. The purpose and intent of this blog is to provide weekly comments and help in our daily walk in principles of Christian growth. In the previous comment I spoke to the lost art of Spiritual Disciplines, which leads to a weakened relationship with the Lord and the Spirit’s working in ones life. At the core of the Spiritual Disciplines is the necessity of daily devotions and mediations in the word. In a recent morning mediation, I came across something worth sharing that may be of help along this line relating to perseverance.
I RECALL many years ago seeing a popular bumper sticker: “Be patient with me, God is not finished with me yet” – or something like that. (Interesting…. It’s been awhile since I’ve seen that.) The fact is, the Christian life is an on-going process of “becoming,” and it never really stops and thus requires the process of perseverance on both sides of the coin.
BELOW is a page from a favorite daily devotional book, Heart of the Matter from CCEF. The book is a compilation of many different writers; excerpts from books written from members of Christian Counseling and Education Foundation, published by New Growth Press. I highly recommend it and their many other valuable books. The comment below is from Edward Welch and his Book titled Depression. I pray it is an encouragement as you persevere in Christ, further in and further up.
THERE are two-sides to the perseverance coin. There is our side as we continue to work out the implications of our own salvation (Phil. 2:12) and continue to press towards the mark of Christ (Phil. 3:13-14). Then there is the Lord’s side as he works in us that which is well pleasing in his sight, Phil. 2:13, 1:6. In reality, perseverance is an element of the attributes of God; the opportunity of which is to see it mirrored within ourselves.
In the inexorable blessings of Christ,
Joe
Neh. 8:10, Isa 30:15, Jas 1:2
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Hebrews 12:3-17
Persevere is something God does; it is not only something he says. It is one of the many aspects of his character. The reason it is of great worth is that it is one of the chief ways God has revealed himself to us. Scripture consistently points to God’s perseverance and forbearance with his people. “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9, author’s emphasis). “May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance” (2 Thessalonians 3:5, author’s emphasis). “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2, author’s emphasis).
Perseverance is only relevant in difficulties, and we are, in fact, very difficult people for God to deal with. Our Creator God has created us for himself and we respond too often with indifference or a quest for adolescent independence. Put even more personally, we are his beloved, but, in the face of God’s unexplainable and lavish love, we pursue other lovers who ultimately abandon us. In this context, God reveals his perseverance with us.
“A Bible that’s falling apart often belongs to someone who isn’t” – Rev. Croom
