Patient Endurance: Let Us Not Lose Heart in Doing Good
Hebrews 12:1, Galatians 6:9
“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses (those who have gone before us and those who endured victoriously to the end) 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 YAHshua (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 YAHveh (God). For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (Hebrews 12:1-3)
“Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith” (Galatians 6:9-10). As Apostle Paul taught us, “I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Messiah YAHshua (Christ Jesus) my Master (Lord), for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Messiah, … that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead…I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Messiah…I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward [heavenly] call of YAHveh (God) in Messiah YAHshua (Jesus).” (Philippians 3:7-8, 10-12,14)
As our Savior, for the joy set before Him endured the crucifixion stake, let us endure the process of our flesh being crucified to the world because of the joy set before us knowing, “…no eye has seen… no ear has heard and … no human mind has conceived”—the things God has prepared for those who love him—” (1 Corinthians 2:9). Let all of our hopes be transferred from this dying world as we know it and be invested in His righteous kingdom that has been prepared for those who have loved and followed Him by daily dying to their flesh to live obediently by the grace and power of His Spirit in faith. May we set our hearts desires and longings on the blessed appearance of our King and Savior!
This quote of Charles Spurgeon was taken from Morning and Evening:
“… Apostle Paul not only believed in Christ’s death, and trusted in it, but he actually felt its power in himself in causing the crucifixion of his old corrupt nature. When he saw the pleasures of sin, he said, “I cannot enjoy these: I am dead to them.” Such is the experience of every true Christian. Having received Christ, he is to this world as one who is utterly dead. Yet, while conscious of death to the world, he can, at the same time, exclaim with the apostle, “Nevertheless I live.” He is fully alive unto God. The Christian’s life is a matchless riddle. No worldling can comprehend it; even the believer himself cannot understand it. Dead, yet alive! Crucified with Christ, and yet at the same time risen with Christ in newness of life! Union with the suffering, bleeding Savior, and death to the world and sin, are soul-cheering things. O for more enjoyment of them!”
“The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Messiah, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him” (Romans 8:16-17). YAHshua (Jesus) is asking us, “Are you willing to suffer with Me?” The Scripture is very clear, “For to you it has been granted for Messiah’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake” (Philippians 1:29). We can’t say, “Well, I’ll take the first part of believing in Him, but I don’t want the second half, to suffer with Him.” Our Savior says, “Remember … A slave is not greater than his master. If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also” (John 15:20).
If they rejected YAHshua (Jesus) when He came to give them His life, to give them His love, they are going to reject you too. Are you willing to suffer that excruciating pain of rejection? Ask YAHshua (Jesus) to make you strong in YAHveh and the power of His might, to go beyond just to believing in Him. Pray that He will give you the desire to also suffer with Him because you want to do His bidding and you want to know Him more intimately through sharing and understanding His sufferings on a personal level.
Even Peter, before the Savior’s crucifixion, proclaimed, “Master, with You I am ready to go both to prison and to death!” YAHshua’s (Jesus’s) reply to Peter, “…The rooster will not crow today until you have denied three times that you know Me” (Luke 22:33-34). We can acknowledge that we love and will follow our God and Savior, but the truth is, when it gets down to the reality of persecution, when the pain of rejection is in our face, we will desperately need the Spirit’s help. That same fearful Peter, who did not have the courage to stand up for his faith in YAHshua, (Jesus) was later transformed and empowered with the Spirit. Then he was willing and able to have the courage to embrace a martyr’s death and rejoice to be counted worthy to suffer with His Redeemer. Many credible historians have recorded that Peter said as he was going to his martyrs death, “I am not worthy to be crucified the way my Master was, hang me upside down on that stake!”
Given that martyrdom has been perpetuated throughout the ages allowing many of YAHshua’s (Jesus’s) followers to know Him in that ultimate suffering of dying for the truth, we need to sober up to the reality that it could happen to any one of us who believe in Him. In this present age it is going on daily and it may likely happen in the future of the United States of America. At this juncture we are being arrested in the Spirit of truth and sobriety. We know for many people according to our Redeemer’s very words throughout the book of Revelation that enduring to the end will be the reality for those who are truly His obedient, blood washed, redeemed remnant.
Prayer:
YAHshua (Jesus) please help me to run this race with endurance. Help me to wholeheartedly die to the desires of my flesh, the desires for the things of this world and to truly be crucified with You. I want to know You in Your sufferings and crucifixion that I might know You in Your resurrection power and live in Your unfathomably glorious kingdom. Thank You that the things of this world are becoming less appealing because my eyes are fixed more on You, the author and finisher of my faith. Please continually magnify and convict me of that which is a detriment to my running and fighting the good fight of faith and be found pleasing in Your sight. I acknowledge that I can do nothing apart from You, please help me to be found dead to my flesh and this world and to be alive in the Spirit to You. Thank you for Your grace, mercy, and Your love that will never fail me.
