Friday 24 October 2008

Staying the Course

There's no guarantee that the life of a believer will be without complication or concerns. The person that conveys that message is seriously misinformed.

We then, are called to persevere. Without accepting the situation, we discover ways in which we can serve the Lord with integrity in spite of the malady. The obstruction can take different forms, but we must press on with great resolve.

James 5:11 (MSG)
11 What a gift life is to those who stay the course! You've heard, of course, of Job's staying power, and you know how God brought it all together for him at the end. That's because God cares, cares right down to the last detail.

1 comment:

jeff said...

I just read this today in the book God on Mute by Peter Grieg. the context is after describing the loss of 3000 men in the taking of Omaha Beach during World War 2 June 6, 1944:

"There is absolutely no point in pretending that our mission in Christ will be anything but difficult or that sacrifices required of us will be anything but great. Our Commander in Chief Himself insists that we will overcome Satan only through sacrifice (Matt, 5:10-12; Rev. 12:11). This may mean persecution and even martyrdom, but for most of us it rarely feels or looks heroic. Instead, it takes the mundane form of a daily struggle, sacrificing ourselves not just once but repeatedly (Rom. 12:1), preferring others, holding our tongues when we want to criticize, and trusting God when we feel like quitting. As we pay the price of obedience, we can be sure that every unswered prayer, every short-term loss, plays its part in the long-term certainty of victory in Christ. It's just that we never realized that winning can sometimes hurt like h---.

Although I agree with Peter Grieg that though we shouldn't pretend that our mission in Christ will be anything but difficult, because of God's love and grace, what we often receive by persevering is His joy.