Perseverance
In the movie Rocky the main character goes round after round getting pounded and beat up, but persevering against the odds! Sometimes it feels like that when we’re going through trials in life, like we’re being beat up and can hardly stand anymore. That’s the point where God may be calling us to persevere!
Perseverance: (session 5)
(Prayer)
Read Romans 5:3-5; 2 Peter 1:5-11; James 1:2-4; and Revelation 13:10
In the context of trials, we are called to persevere, whether in relationships, temptations, testings of our faith, or difficult circumstances. This calls for patience, not only for others, but for ourselves and God. Commitment is a dying art, but essential to real success in ministry. We must find out what God is calling us to and obey, not out of sacrifice, but obedience and then stick to that come hell or high water. This is a marathon, not a sprint, thus we are asking God to give us a long-haul determination. When someone sins against you or you sin against them, it means doing the tough work of reconciliation out of commitment to them. We must ask for more of the Fruit of the Spirit to love our neighbors as ourselves, to be able to put ourselves in their shoes.
God give us the fruit of the Spirit for faithfulness and self-control that we might be determined to persevere with those tasks and people you’ve called us to.
According to Romans 5:3-5, suffering produces perseverance if we let it and that produces an invincible character in us that gives us hope in all situations. This is where most folks fail in ministry, in marriages, and in all kinds of relationships God has called us to. When we suffer we can become bitter or we can learn to persevere in hope. God help us to persevere!
Assigment: Make a list either mentally or literally of your commitments, especially over the next week. Ask yourself which God has called you to and which are you doing out of human pressure/obligation only? Circle the ones God has called you to and do those. Get rid of the rest as best as you can. Stick to what God has called you to of what you’re already doing doggedly!
(Prayer)