What does the word perseverance mean
to you? Maybe that word doesn’t mean much to you because your life has been
easy so far. Maybe you know the definition of that word well because it seems
life has thrown you its worst, and you’ve survived it. Everyone throughout
history has had to deal to some extent with perseverance. There are numerous biblical
stories on perseverance that teach us today with needed life lessons. Below are
examples of this:
The Apostle Paul-No
one has a better conversion story than Paul. He went from killing Christians to
becoming one. After his conversion, he faced many trials and persecutions. In 2 Corinthians 11:23-33, Paul says he was imprisoned repeatedly, flogged with a total of a 195 lashes, exposed to death
again and again, beaten with rods three times, pelted with stones, and shipwrecked
three times. Just to name a few. Paul
embodies what it means to persevere in the faith. His letters in the New
Testament tell his story and are a crucial example of perseverance in the midst
of one’s weakness.
Jeremiah-Jeremiah
was blessed by God, and tasked with preaching God’s word to his people. He is
an example of perseverance by continually preaching and teaching God’s word,
despite all that was done to him.
His faithfulness to share God’s revelations to an unfaithful
nation is our ultimate example to persevere in preaching, teaching, and sharing
the gospel. You must always endure to share the good news of Jesus with a lost
world. Sometimes you forget how good you have it, especially in a country where
you are ultimately free to say what you want. You have the choice to proclaim
and share Jesus’ gospel to anyone you want.
Jesus-Jesus
was born, and lived a sinless life. He persevered through the agony on the cross,
gave His life for a sinner like you, and offered the perfect example of
endurance as he finished his race of life perfectly. Jesus shows us how to
persist through adversity, pain, sorrow, good times, and bad. Through His strength alone can you persevere
over all life’s issues:
Job-Job
was an authentic man, blameless, and upright. He was a diligent follower of God.
Satan wanted to prove a point to God that he could break this man’s will. He
asked if he could torture Job, and God allowed it. The only restriction God
placed on Satan was that he could not take Job’s life. In the course of one
day, Job was told by different servants that all his belongings and
possessions, livestock, and ten children had been killed or destroyed by
natural disasters or thieves.
Job still praised God, even in his sorrow. Job was afflicted
with terrible skin sores and yet, he persevered and praised God. In his
grieving and illness, Job’s friends came and sat with him. Despite the terrible
advice they offered him, Job still praised God. Soon his praises turned to
questions, bitterness and anger. Job’s story is the ultimate test of faith and
example of perseverance in the Bible.
Even in the darkest times, through death and turmoil, questions of faith and
God, Job was faithful and trusted God’s plan.
The
Persistent Widow-Jesus tells us a story
(parable) of a widow in Luke 18:1-8. It
details how a widow goes before a judge, who doesn’t fear God or man. She
pleads with the judge to right a wrong done to her by her adversary. She
continually pleaded with him to do so. After a while, he caved in, and even
though he didn’t fear God or man, he avenged her wrong doing. She essentially
wore him down. The parable goes on to highlight how God will avenge his
children—believers (even more
swiftly than an earthly judge).
When you continually cry out to God, he hears us. This is a
story to show us that persistently pleading with God, talking with him, praying
and persevering in faith, will reap His rewards. He hears our prayers. This
example of perseverance by a widow is told to show us that whatever our
problems are, even if you think they’re too little or too big, should be lifted
up to God daily. He wants to hear from us. So you should bring them to a God
who is mighty enough to solve them.
You forget that there are Christians around the world that
doesn’t have that same freedom, who gather in house churches and basements to
worship and share. They whisper and proclaim God’s word at the risk of
imprisonment and sometimes even death. You must be diligent to share the gospel
when God asks us. Jeremiah is a perfect example of this kind of perseverance in
the Bible, and you should follow his
example, proclaiming Christ to those who would hear.
Below are keys to becoming better
with perseverance:
Build the Right Relationships-Many
relationships draw us away from Jesus. They require our time and attention,
compromise our morals, and inspire bitterness and anger and not love. Some of
these relationships are with family, which can cripple people spiritually. You
must have relationships that encourage and strengthen us. When the relationship
makes us more like the world, you must reevaluate it and minimize it. When it
makes us more like Jesus, you must nurture it.
Change Your Lifestyle-When you start
to follow, you must get rid of everything that keeps you from becoming like
Jesus. That means entertainments, language, recreation, habits, and even how
you eat, drink, and sleep. You cannot persevere if you are trying to make your
spiritual health compete with all the things you used to do. You must make time
for your spiritual health and that means your lifestyle changes. Perseverance
is a lifestyle.
Go to Church-I know that
some churches have problems. That’s well documented, but you need each other,
and you need times of corporate worship. There is something powerful about
gathering together and worshiping. It encourages and strengthens us spiritually
to be in that environment. I know people who skip church if they have a
sniffle. I also know those who are in church unless they are in the hospital.
Pray -Prayer is
essential communication with God. It is your expression of worship and praise,
of anxiety and need, of questions and problems. When you pause to listen, you
release yourself to hear from Him. While understanding the Bible takes time and effort, the more you practice the art of
listening the better you get at it. Perseverance happens through prayer.
Read the Bible-The Bible is perhaps the most important
factor to healthy spiritual life. Daily time in the Bible makes you stronger spiritually. When you read the Bible, you learn about Jesus and yourself.
You learn how you are to live, how God helps you to exist fully in that life. Reading
the Bible equips you for the things you encounter in everyday life.
Settle
the Question-This is the biggest stumbling block for people. You may turn
to God out of desperation but do you follow? Do you determine in our hearts
that you will continue? You are following God no matter what. Perseverance
doesn’t happen in the ‘if’ regarding spiritual things.
If you are in a
difficult place that God has led you to, remind yourself that you are where God
wants you to be. He is faithful and will see you through. Settling the question
means there is no turning back. It’s leaving the old life like the disciples
did when they walked away from their jobs to follow Jesus. Failure to do this
means you will not persevere in following Jesus.
“God
never said that the journey would be easy, but He did say that the arrival
would be worthwhile.” (Max Lucado)[i]
[i] Inspired by a pastoral panel discussion, Sunday July 5, 2020, CenterPoint
pastors: Pastor Dave Jansen (Gahanna), Pastor Jon Fulton (Westerville), Interim
Pastor Josh Boyer (Lewis Center), and Pastor J.R. Zarate (Hilliard) All
CenterPoint churches are closed due to the Coronavirus, and are meeting online
at 10am at the CenterPoint Church Main Page on Facebook.)
Additional sources used:
· “5 Inspiring Examples of Perseverance in the Bible” by Landen Melton and
Beth Steffaniak
·
“7 Powerful Keys to
Perseverance!” by jimthefollower.com
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