Building Endurance
In his first letter to Timothy, Paul stated, "For bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come" (1 Timothy 4:8).
The writer of Hebrews had much to say about endurance in encouraging the readers of this letter.
He reminds them of what they experienced, and then says, "Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what is promised" (Hebrews 10:35-36).
Hebrews 11 enumerates those who had previously walked by faith. This chapter begins, "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the men of old gained approval.... And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him" (verses 1-2, 6) and the chapter concludes, "And all these, having gained acceptance through their faith did not receive what was promised, because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect (verses 39-40).
What more can we take away?
Hebrews 12 makes clear: "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 will not grow weary and lose heart" (verses 1-4).
What else does this chapter tell us about endurance?
"It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness" (12:7-11).
James also connects trials with endurance: "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing" (James 1:2-4). Later, "We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord's dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and merciful" (5:11).
What do I see are the points in building spiritual endurance? In Hebrews 12: so that we may share His holinesss and bear the peaceful fruit of righteousness. In James: that the testing of our faith through trials produces endurance, and that endurance is perfecting and completing us (sanctifying), and reveals that the Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
The writer of Hebrews had much to say about endurance in encouraging the readers of this letter.
He reminds them of what they experienced, and then says, "Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what is promised" (Hebrews 10:35-36).
Hebrews 11 enumerates those who had previously walked by faith. This chapter begins, "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the men of old gained approval.... And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him" (verses 1-2, 6) and the chapter concludes, "And all these, having gained acceptance through their faith did not receive what was promised, because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect (verses 39-40).
What more can we take away?
Hebrews 12 makes clear: "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 will not grow weary and lose heart" (verses 1-4).
What else does this chapter tell us about endurance?
"It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness" (12:7-11).
James also connects trials with endurance: "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing" (James 1:2-4). Later, "We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord's dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and merciful" (5:11).
What do I see are the points in building spiritual endurance? In Hebrews 12: so that we may share His holinesss and bear the peaceful fruit of righteousness. In James: that the testing of our faith through trials produces endurance, and that endurance is perfecting and completing us (sanctifying), and reveals that the Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
posted by Ebeth | 11:09 AM
2 Comments:
Hebrews is my favor book. Our pastor is going to start preaching through it.
Amen!
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home