“And Gideon came to Jordan, and passed over, he, and the three hundred men that were with him, faint, yet pursuing them.” Judges 8:4
Dear Ones:
One of the great rules and laws of the harvest is that, “…in due season we shall reap, IF we faint not.” (Gal. 6:9) Endurance, and the quiet, patient pursuit of the objective, are key elements for winning the prize of a race, or accomplishing an objective. When Paul wrote to the Philippian believers, he shared something of his own continuing “pursuit:” “…I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (3:14) His objective was very clear, and towards that objective was directed all of his energies and capacities, especially that which was by the Spirit. He elaborated on this point when in his letter to the Ephesians he wrote: “…Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the POWER that worketh in us.” (3:20) This whole issue of endurance, and pursuit, even when we are tired, as Gideon and his men were, has its basis and resource in Christ Himself. HE is our power, endurance, patience, even zeal. It is God who trains our hands for war, enables us, as David wrote, “…to leap over a wall,” but also, to pursue the objective with steady perseverance. Of course, the greatest example of pursuing the objective was Christ Himself. His objective clear, He was totally committed to the realization of His mission. So, what is essential for the pursuit to be the right one, and for us to succeed in it?
The first matter that needs to be addressed and settled is that of the “object” of the pursuit. Gideon knew exactly who he was to pursue. Christ knew precisely what was His objective. The Apostle Paul, though knowing he had been “set apart from his mother’s womb,” to preach Christ, also knew with great clarity what his objective was. It was not ministry, but Christ Himself. This is not to say that Paul did not pursue objectives in ministry. The great and grand pursuit of his life was to know His Maker and Redeemer. All things were subservient to this objective, and oriented for its accomplishment. Hence, he was committed, engaged, focused in such a way, that all of his energies were directed consistently to reach this goal.
The second thing we need to see in order to pursue our objective effectively is to understand what is our source of strength, our power. In Isaiah’s great chapter concerning the comfort and restoration of Jerusalem, he writes: “…the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, FAINTETH NOT, neither is weary.” (40:28) He goes on to say, “He (God) gives power to the faint; and to them that have no might He increaseth strength.” (v.29) David writes that “…God is our refuge, and STRENGTH, a very present HELP in trouble.” (Ps. 46:1) Before Pentecost, the Lord Jesus had said to his disciples, “…and you shall receive POWER after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you.” (Acts 1:8) He was speaking in view of the believer’s powerful witness to the saving grace of God to the world. This was realized. What is the issue here? CHRIST is our power, our authority, by the Holy Spirit. It is as we trust in, rely upon, and draw from Him by faith, this ever present strength and power, that we are enabled to endure, to continue, to pursue, to overcome, and to finish the race well. God has not left us alone in this matter. He has placed in us the Spirit of the One who never failed or was discouraged.
Dear Father, give us to be like the Lord Jesus, whose objective was so very clear, and whose energies by the Spirit were so focused as to obtain His objective. Give us His strength and power to pursue, even in the mundane things of life, so that we may truly reap, as You have promised. We thank Thee that You have not left us alone, but are with us, to enable us to patiently endure, pursue, and overcome. We praise and thank Thee in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad