Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs—he wants to please his commanding officer. Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor's crown unless he competes according to the rules. The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.
(2 Tim. 2:3-7, NIV)
As a ministry team, we can learn a lot by reading a letter written to a minister. 2 Timothy shows us that endurance is not pointless. We are not just holding on for the sake of holding on, we endure because we are working for something. The soldier, the athlete, and the farmer all work hard and endure because they know the purpose and goal of their effort. The soldier knows for whom he is working, and thus abstains from civilian activities. He endures rigorous training for the sake of his master. The athlete also constrains himself to play by the rules, because he knows that if he wins fairly he will win a crown. The farmer works hard in his field because he knows that the fruit of his labor will be food for his own table.
Here are Jesus' instructions for his disciples when they face hard times in ministry:
I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.
Be on your guard against men; they will hand you over to the local councils and flog you in their synagogues. On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles. But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.
(Matt. 10:16-22)
This is as bad as it can get! Most of us will not have to face being arrested or beaten in church because of our obedience to Christ. Still, we sometimes get the sense that there are pitfalls all around, a point the text makes quite clearly here. Things will go wrong, consistently and dangerously.
In spite of everything that can and will go bad, though, whoever stands firm to the end will be saved. There is good news in the affirmation that hardship is not the final word for us. Salvation comes after hardship if we only hold on. This insight has the potential to completely change our perspective. There is hope at the end of the road, even when we are at the end of our rope. We just have to hang on.
Blessings,
Greg and Tiffany
Showing posts with label endure. Show all posts
Showing posts with label endure. Show all posts
Friday, June 12, 2009
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Too tired ...
Nobody ever warned me that the longer I lived the longer would be the list of my failures. Lord, on gloomy days, they seem to overwhelm all the happy memories, and I wonder what point there is in going on. But I know you faced much worse than I ever have, and that you rose again, even from the dead. Lord of resurrection, lift me from the dust and ashes of my failures into the joy of your kingdom and help me to trust, even on gloomy days, that your light still shines.
- Dorothy M. Stewart
I am tired, Lord,
too tired to think,
too tired to pray,
too tired to do anything.
Too tired,
drained of resources,
"labouring at the oars against a head wind,"
pressed down by a force as strong as the sea.
Lord of all power and might,
"you way was through the sea, your path through the great waters,"
calm my soul,
take control,
Lord of all power and might.
- Rex Chapman
Unsleeping friend,
when I come to the end of my strength,
and my work has no blessing in it,
help me to remember you,
to reach for the hand of a friend
and find your love there
- Bernard Thorogood
Tiffany and I offer this final prayer, written by Richard Harries, for all of you:
O God, we hold in your all-embracing arms those who feel at the end of their tether; those who feel things going against them; those who feel got down. Help them to let go into your life-giving power which saves us from every kind of death.
Lord, make possible for me by grace what is impossible to me by nature. You know that I am not able to endure very much, and that I am downcast with the slightest difficulty. Grant that for your sake I may come to love and desire any hardship that puts me to the test, for your salvation is brought to my soul when I undergo suffering and trouble for you.
-Thomas a Kempis
May Jesus Christ, the King of glory, help us to make the right use of all the suffering that comes to us and to offer him the incense of a patient and trustful heart; for his name's sake. Amen.
-Johannes Tauler
Blessings,
Greg and Tiffany
- Dorothy M. Stewart
I am tired, Lord,
too tired to think,
too tired to pray,
too tired to do anything.
Too tired,
drained of resources,
"labouring at the oars against a head wind,"
pressed down by a force as strong as the sea.
Lord of all power and might,
"you way was through the sea, your path through the great waters,"
calm my soul,
take control,
Lord of all power and might.
- Rex Chapman
Unsleeping friend,
when I come to the end of my strength,
and my work has no blessing in it,
help me to remember you,
to reach for the hand of a friend
and find your love there
- Bernard Thorogood
Tiffany and I offer this final prayer, written by Richard Harries, for all of you:
O God, we hold in your all-embracing arms those who feel at the end of their tether; those who feel things going against them; those who feel got down. Help them to let go into your life-giving power which saves us from every kind of death.
Lord, make possible for me by grace what is impossible to me by nature. You know that I am not able to endure very much, and that I am downcast with the slightest difficulty. Grant that for your sake I may come to love and desire any hardship that puts me to the test, for your salvation is brought to my soul when I undergo suffering and trouble for you.
-Thomas a Kempis
May Jesus Christ, the King of glory, help us to make the right use of all the suffering that comes to us and to offer him the incense of a patient and trustful heart; for his name's sake. Amen.
-Johannes Tauler
Blessings,
Greg and Tiffany
Thursday, September 25, 2008
A litany of why
Sometimes we wonder why things are the way that they are for us. We are, after all, the children of God. Should we not be blessed? Let me voice the litany of “why” questions that I hear my brothers and sisters speak from day to day:
Why does our family struggle with finances, with meeting our bills? It’s not like, after all, that we spend hundreds of dollars each month on cigarettes or alcohol. It’s not as if one of us has a gambling problem. Yes, we probably could be a little more careful with our money, but why do we feel as if we live from day to day? Why are things happening that cause my retirement nest egg to decline, it seems like every day?
Why do I have this pain, why do I experience this personal suffering in my body? Why does this pain distract my spirit, restrain my godly passion, diminish my energy to do the righteousness of God? Since my body affects my spirit, why is this pain allowed to persist?
Why does this world careen from one crisis to another? We know that reporters are honored by their peers when they find the ugly, not the good; crisis, not creativity. Still it seems as if there is enough violence, hate, poverty, and war in our world for several lifetimes, not just ours.
Why are my children suffering? I know that God says that he loves children; why does he allow these challenges to happen in their lives? Aren’t their trials great enough? Haven’t I prayed enough, counseled enough, given enough?
Why does God withhold this desire of my heart from me? Does it not glorify him? Would it not please him? Do I not please him? Surely this is only a small thing in the power of God …
Why? Well, honestly “why” is the natural question in the face of suffering. It leads to lament, which is the moaning of our spirits before the spirit of God. We need to lament, we need to express to God our sorrow because he does understand it. He even understands the sorrow that is too deep for words. Eventually though, on the other side of lament, comes the act of faith, the act of endurance. James says, “My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2-4 NRSV)
Paul goes further. He says that suffering, that crisis, only serve as contrast to the glory that even now God is bringing to his creation.
I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family. And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified.
Romans 8:18-30 – NRSV
O God, be righteous; because your righteousness is our righteousness, the righteousness of your frail children.
O God, be glorified; because your glory spills over to bring glory to us, your children oppressed by an arrogant world.
O children of God, be righteous: do justice, show mercy, and walk humbly before your God, and you will demonstrate the righteousness of God.
O children of God, glorify God, humble yourselves, and he will lift you up.
O God hear the sighs of our heart, enact in us the glory of your righteousness, and help us trust that you are the Savior, the one who comes at just the right time. O Lord, expand the borders of your kingdom; please begin in our hearts.
Grace, and peace,
Ron
Why does our family struggle with finances, with meeting our bills? It’s not like, after all, that we spend hundreds of dollars each month on cigarettes or alcohol. It’s not as if one of us has a gambling problem. Yes, we probably could be a little more careful with our money, but why do we feel as if we live from day to day? Why are things happening that cause my retirement nest egg to decline, it seems like every day?
Why do I have this pain, why do I experience this personal suffering in my body? Why does this pain distract my spirit, restrain my godly passion, diminish my energy to do the righteousness of God? Since my body affects my spirit, why is this pain allowed to persist?
Why does this world careen from one crisis to another? We know that reporters are honored by their peers when they find the ugly, not the good; crisis, not creativity. Still it seems as if there is enough violence, hate, poverty, and war in our world for several lifetimes, not just ours.
Why are my children suffering? I know that God says that he loves children; why does he allow these challenges to happen in their lives? Aren’t their trials great enough? Haven’t I prayed enough, counseled enough, given enough?
Why does God withhold this desire of my heart from me? Does it not glorify him? Would it not please him? Do I not please him? Surely this is only a small thing in the power of God …
Why? Well, honestly “why” is the natural question in the face of suffering. It leads to lament, which is the moaning of our spirits before the spirit of God. We need to lament, we need to express to God our sorrow because he does understand it. He even understands the sorrow that is too deep for words. Eventually though, on the other side of lament, comes the act of faith, the act of endurance. James says, “My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2-4 NRSV)
Paul goes further. He says that suffering, that crisis, only serve as contrast to the glory that even now God is bringing to his creation.
I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family. And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified.
Romans 8:18-30 – NRSV
O God, be righteous; because your righteousness is our righteousness, the righteousness of your frail children.
O God, be glorified; because your glory spills over to bring glory to us, your children oppressed by an arrogant world.
O children of God, be righteous: do justice, show mercy, and walk humbly before your God, and you will demonstrate the righteousness of God.
O children of God, glorify God, humble yourselves, and he will lift you up.
O God hear the sighs of our heart, enact in us the glory of your righteousness, and help us trust that you are the Savior, the one who comes at just the right time. O Lord, expand the borders of your kingdom; please begin in our hearts.
Grace, and peace,
Ron
Saturday, September 20, 2008
God and time
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to throw away;
a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.
What gain have the workers from their toil? I have seen the business that God has given to everyone to be busy with.
He has made everything suitable for its time; moreover he has put a sense of past and future into their minds, yet they cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.
I know that there is nothing better for them than to be happy and enjoy themselves as long as they live; moreover, it is God's gift that all should eat and drink and take pleasure in all their toil.
I know that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it; God has done this, so that all should stand in awe before him.
That which is, already has been; that which is to be, already is; and God seeks out what has gone by.
Ecc 3:1-15 – NRSV
Grace and peace,
Ron
a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to throw away;
a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.
What gain have the workers from their toil? I have seen the business that God has given to everyone to be busy with.
He has made everything suitable for its time; moreover he has put a sense of past and future into their minds, yet they cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.
I know that there is nothing better for them than to be happy and enjoy themselves as long as they live; moreover, it is God's gift that all should eat and drink and take pleasure in all their toil.
I know that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it; God has done this, so that all should stand in awe before him.
That which is, already has been; that which is to be, already is; and God seeks out what has gone by.
Ecc 3:1-15 – NRSV
Grace and peace,
Ron
Saturday, September 6, 2008
It is trustworthy
It is a trustworthy statement:
For if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him;
If we endure, we shall also reign with Him;
If we deny Him, He also will deny us;
If we are faithless, He remains faithful; for He cannot deny Himself.
-2 Timothy 2:11-13
Blessings,
Julia
For if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him;
If we endure, we shall also reign with Him;
If we deny Him, He also will deny us;
If we are faithless, He remains faithful; for He cannot deny Himself.
-2 Timothy 2:11-13
Blessings,
Julia
Friday, September 5, 2008
Want to be one of them
“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you may not grow weary and lose heart.”
-Heb. 12:1-3 (NAS)
Last song, guys.
When the Saints
Lord,
I have a heavy burden of all I’ve seen and know;
It’s more than I can handle.
But Your Word is burning like a fire shut up in my bones
And I can’t let it go.
And when I’m weary and overwrought
With so many battles left un-fought,
I think of Paul and Silas in the prison yard;
I hear their song of freedom rising to the stars -
And when the Saints go marching in -
I want to be one of them.
Lord it’s all that I can’t carry and cannot leave behind;
It all can overwhelm me.
But when I think of all who’ve gone before and lived a faithful life,
Their courage compels me.
And when I’m weary and overwrought
With so many battles left un-fought,
I think of Paul and Silas in the prison yard;
I hear their song of freedom rising to the stars;
I see the shepherd Moses in the Pharaoh’s court;
I hear his call for freedom for the people of the Lord -
And when the Saints go marching in -
I want to be one of them.
And when the Saints go marching in -
I want to be one of them…
I see the Man of Sorrow and His long troubled road,
I see the world on His shoulders and my easy load -
And when the Saints go marching in -
I want to be one of them.
-Sara Groves, Tell Me What You Know
Blessings,
Julia
-Heb. 12:1-3 (NAS)
Last song, guys.
When the Saints
Lord,
I have a heavy burden of all I’ve seen and know;
It’s more than I can handle.
But Your Word is burning like a fire shut up in my bones
And I can’t let it go.
And when I’m weary and overwrought
With so many battles left un-fought,
I think of Paul and Silas in the prison yard;
I hear their song of freedom rising to the stars -
And when the Saints go marching in -
I want to be one of them.
Lord it’s all that I can’t carry and cannot leave behind;
It all can overwhelm me.
But when I think of all who’ve gone before and lived a faithful life,
Their courage compels me.
And when I’m weary and overwrought
With so many battles left un-fought,
I think of Paul and Silas in the prison yard;
I hear their song of freedom rising to the stars;
I see the shepherd Moses in the Pharaoh’s court;
I hear his call for freedom for the people of the Lord -
And when the Saints go marching in -
I want to be one of them.
And when the Saints go marching in -
I want to be one of them…
I see the Man of Sorrow and His long troubled road,
I see the world on His shoulders and my easy load -
And when the Saints go marching in -
I want to be one of them.
-Sara Groves, Tell Me What You Know
Blessings,
Julia
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