ConneXus Blog

By Julia Fowler, Worship Arts Pastor

Text: Various

The subject of endurance is approached in many circles.  I hear it especially often in the sports world: don't give up, make it to the finish line, never surrender.  The objective of endurance is to stay on course; to recognize and declare that an end idea, product or goal exists and then determining to meet the objective to get there AND never quitting until you do. 

Paul sets the ultimate and probably most familiar scriptural presentation of this Christian objective when he writes in Philippians 3:12, "… I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me."  He took hold of us to redeem us to refurbish us back into the form of our original creation - pure, perfect, holy, in His complete image.  Paul writes in many other places, as do many other writers both included in the Bible and those who've written since, that the fullness of our refurbishment or regeneration will not be finally complete until we see Christ face to face in glory.  But until then … we must endure. 

Hardship comes -- endure!  Trouble comes -- endure!  Discouragement, disappointment, frustration, anger, set-backs, pit-falls, stops, starts, blessings, curses, on and on -- endure!   Why? Because we know that our light and momentary trouble are achieving for us this eternal glory that far outweighs what we currently see or hear or feel.  (2 Cor. 4:17)

In my moments even this week of trying to endure successfully I ran across the following set of verses.  They have been an encouragement to me and I thought perhaps they may be for you as well.  

2 Timothy 4:10 – Demas in love with this world has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica.

Mark 4:17-18 – They have no root in themselves and endure for a while… Others are the ones sown among thorns; they are those who hear the word, but the cares of the world and the delight in riches and the desire for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.

Matthew 24:12-13 – And because wickedness is multiplied, most men’s love will grow cold. But he who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, as a testimony to all the nations; and then the end will come.

1 Corinthians 15:58 – Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

Galatians 6:9 – And let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

Hebrews 2:1 – Therefore, we must pay the closer attention to what we have heard lest we drift away from it.

Hebrews 3:12-14 – Take care, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called today, that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we share in Christ, if only we hold our first confidence firm to the end.

Hebrews 10:35-36 – Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that you may do the will of God and receive what is promised.

Hebrews 12:1-2 – Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:13-14 – Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.

Romans 8:23-25 – Not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

Acts 20:24 – But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may accomplish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

1 Thessalonians 1:3 – Remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Thessalonians 3:5 – May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.

James 4:7-8 – Be patient, therefore, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient over it until it receives the early and the late rain. You also be patient.

1 Peter 5:10 – And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, establish, and strengthen you. To him be the dominion for ever and ever. Amen.