Called To Endure!
SCRIPTURE: “…but the one who endures to the end, he shall be saved.” Mark 13:13 (NKJV)
Most of us are familiar with the phrase “Been there, done that!” No one that we know, however, can say it with greater authority than Christ our Lord, as He is familiar with all that confronts us in this sin-cursed world. He has faced it all, yet WITHOUT SIN. (Hebrews 4:15)
Have you been lied on? Our Savior was; so was Stephen, Christendom’s first martyr, and Paul the apostle, to name a few. (Luke 23:2; Acts 6:13, and Acts 24:5) Have you been rejected or greatly misunderstood by those who should have received you with open arms? So has our Savior! (Isaiah 53:3; Jn. 1:11) Have you been prejudged or disbelieved because you didn’t conform to the “script” others had for you? Our Lord Jesus can relate to that! (Isaiah 53:2b) Be comforted, brothers and sisters! Jesus, our Elder Brother, the Shepherd and Bishop of our souls, has endured these same relational minefields of life during the days of His flesh! In fact, He as the risen Savior God still forbears with humanity, enduring with divine long-suffering many of the things described above. Yet, what can we learn from our Savior’s response to all these things, as we wade into a new year?
We must p.r.a.c.t.i.c.e. following Him who calls us to do the same in this temporal life journey. We must resolve to P-persevere in faith, as Hebrews 12:2 instructs us, with our eyes fixed on the Author and Perfecter of our faith; R-refresh our heart daily in Christ (Philemon v. 20), “though none go with me,” (as a blessed old hymn says), A-act like you know this One who’s called the “Bread of Life,” (Jn. 4:10); C-confess our sins daily (1 Jn. 1:9; Micah 7:18); T-tell Him our struggles, rather than complaining to people who ofttimes have no true and lasting remedies to offer. (Ps. 118:9; Is. 2:22); I-intercede for one another, saints—in specific ways, as much as possible. (Eph. 6:18b); C-count it all joy as you go through trials this new year, confident that our Lord’s purpose is to use those trials to conform us to His image—to not take us down but through in victory; finally, E-endure, for it is written that we have need of doing so, if we would receive what our Savior promises those who believe on Him til the end. (Heb. 10:36; Matt. 24:13).
PRAYER: We thank and praise You, Father, for giving us all that we need to not only survive, but to thrive in a world that is doing its futile best to quench the Light that ever shines through the darkness! Strengthen us as we persevere through Christ! In His name we pray. Amen!
Written by Sis Denise Diggs
Have you been lied on? Our Savior was; so was Stephen, Christendom’s first martyr, and Paul the apostle, to name a few. (Luke 23:2; Acts 6:13, and Acts 24:5) Have you been rejected or greatly misunderstood by those who should have received you with open arms? So has our Savior! (Isaiah 53:3; Jn. 1:11) Have you been prejudged or disbelieved because you didn’t conform to the “script” others had for you? Our Lord Jesus can relate to that! (Isaiah 53:2b) Be comforted, brothers and sisters! Jesus, our Elder Brother, the Shepherd and Bishop of our souls, has endured these same relational minefields of life during the days of His flesh! In fact, He as the risen Savior God still forbears with humanity, enduring with divine long-suffering many of the things described above. Yet, what can we learn from our Savior’s response to all these things, as we wade into a new year?
We must p.r.a.c.t.i.c.e. following Him who calls us to do the same in this temporal life journey. We must resolve to P-persevere in faith, as Hebrews 12:2 instructs us, with our eyes fixed on the Author and Perfecter of our faith; R-refresh our heart daily in Christ (Philemon v. 20), “though none go with me,” (as a blessed old hymn says), A-act like you know this One who’s called the “Bread of Life,” (Jn. 4:10); C-confess our sins daily (1 Jn. 1:9; Micah 7:18); T-tell Him our struggles, rather than complaining to people who ofttimes have no true and lasting remedies to offer. (Ps. 118:9; Is. 2:22); I-intercede for one another, saints—in specific ways, as much as possible. (Eph. 6:18b); C-count it all joy as you go through trials this new year, confident that our Lord’s purpose is to use those trials to conform us to His image—to not take us down but through in victory; finally, E-endure, for it is written that we have need of doing so, if we would receive what our Savior promises those who believe on Him til the end. (Heb. 10:36; Matt. 24:13).
PRAYER: We thank and praise You, Father, for giving us all that we need to not only survive, but to thrive in a world that is doing its futile best to quench the Light that ever shines through the darkness! Strengthen us as we persevere through Christ! In His name we pray. Amen!
Written by Sis Denise Diggs
Archive
2023
January
MOVING INTO A NEW YEAR AND LEAVING YOUR BAGGAGE BEHINDEncouraging You in the New YearA Veteran StudentAll of God’s Gifts Are Wrapped in JesusThe Gift that Keeps on GivingA Faith That’s Signed and SealedI Remember Grandma (Part I)I Remember Grandma (Part II)Roots Growing DeeperSTANDING IN HIS PEACEBE WARY OF COMPARING! (Part I)BE WARY OF COMPARING! (Part II)TIE A YELLOW RIBBON...[Part I]TIE A YELLOW RIBBON... [Part II]The One That Got Away [Until Now] Part IThe One That Got Away [Until Now] Part IIThe One That Got Away [Until Now] PartWINTER, ALREADY ?! [Part I]WINTER, ALREADY ?! [Part II]HE KNOWS!Godly Hope vs. Positive ThinkingHope DeferredCalled To Endure!The Greatest Expectation!The Ear and Eye GateCourage, Saints!!Getting to Know Him- Little By LittleSame Storm Different Boat pt2The Apron of ServanthoodGetting to Know Him- Little By LittleConfess It as Sin!
2022
January
Dissing Double MindednessCome-to-Jesus MomentNew Year, Same God!Is God Real?O Me of Little FaithNot Another Password!Lamb of GodA Tale of Two SongsGod WinksJesus Working Through MeA Real Friend with BenefitsGod is Trying to Tell Us SomethingEven the Lord, RestedGod’s Word to the RescueLiberty and ConscienceHaving a Made-Up MindMarch Like a SoldierThe Reality of UnityLostMiracle on the Roman RoadA Reference Point, Not a ResidencePromised TranquilityListening/Obeying ChristOf ValueHeart FlowThe Implications of “Won’t He Do It”
February
March
STANDING IN VICTORYSelf WillWho are you?Wait a MinuteNOT IF, BUT WHEN (Part 1)NOT IF, BUT WHEN (Part 2)NOT IF, BUT WHEN (Part 3)God Given IdentityHe Knows Our Heart!Witnessing FalselyBut God; the Believer’s SemicolonGod’s Fingerprint – The Living WordHeart OwnershipDeception Among BelieversAn Extraordinary ManEven IfHe Saw the Best in MeNot Quite, Almost, Nearly \"NOPE!\"Jesus’ Teaching About WorshipTHE RIGHT ATTITUDE FOR PRAYER (Part I)THE RIGHT ATTITUDE FOR PRAYER (Part II)Fruits of the SpiritDifferent Time but Same AgendaI Am the GreatestTrusting the FatherListen, God is Speaking to You
April
What’s in A Name?I’m DelightedWhat a Friend We Have in JesusGod Promises a Life of New BeginningsChrist Formed in YouSlow to SpeakThe Eternal God is Our RefugeHis Marvelous Grace and Omniscience!Hosanna! Hosanna! Hosanna!WHEN FAITHFULNESS BARES IT\'S THROAT!Things Change in His PresenceESCAPE THE WOE!Declare the Lord’s Immutability!WAS THE CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS, A DONE DEAL?Jesus Needing a Drink
3 Comments
Umm! That was good! Thank you! That P.R.A.C.T.I.C.E, should be printed, nailed to the wall, and put into daily practice! Pun intended!
Amen. Thanks for sharing.
Amen. Thank you for this very inspiring devotional! Amen!