“…Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 15:58
Dear Ones:
How does one keep on going? How does one with patient endurance, and steadfast hope, plow on in the face of adversity, difficulty, and opposition? Perhaps if we look into the prison cell of the Apostle Paul we might gain some understanding with regard to the solution. Here is a man who is confined physically, but he is “pressing on,” leaning into the line. In spite of his limitations he is “running,” “abounding in the work of the Lord.” How? In chapter 3, as well as in chapter 4, he instructs the Philippian believers to “…rejoice in the Lord…always.” (3:1, 4:4) What occurs when he does this? He is “setting his mind and affections on things above.” Beyond this, he is looking “unto Jesus,” setting the Lord before him, Christ, the Author and Finisher of his faith. As his never-ending, Life and power, the Lord Jesus Christ inspires him, enabling him to keep on going, climbing, unrelentingly going forward…undeterred.
Many are the reasons why it is difficult to go forward at times. When Israel was coming out of Egypt, it was difficult to keep going forward because they did not know WHERE they were going, nor could they understand HOW they would survive. When Israel had returned to the land, they encountered resistance to their efforts in building the temple. The opposition halted their advance. What gave them the vision, and the faith, to renew their quest, to again take up the mantle to go forward, even in the face of resistance? It was when Haggai and Zechariah began to declare the word of God to the leaders, and the people, that strength and power were poured into them. God “stirred up” their spirits, strengthening them to go forward by faith. The result was that they rose up, overcame, and built the temple.
Many are the obstacles to faith in this life. The first and foremost is sin, or unbelief. But, when we avail ourselves of God’s provision for sin, because of, and by the blood of Christ, that obstacle is removed. Another obstacle is limitations, physical, mental, or emotional. Since we are finite creatures in that we have bodies that are subject to sickness and weakness, we can we be hindered. But will we be deterred? There are “mental” obstacles, and these are tied to the emotions…those of fear, dismay and discouragement, anxiety or timidness with regard to the things of God. We need to always ask our selves, “Do these things belong to Christ?” If not, then we must understand and grasp that they do NOT belong to us in Christ. On the one hand we have the power to reject them, and on the other hand, we have the power to look heavenward to the Sufficient Lord, who IS our very present help.
Dear Father, enable us to exchange our weakness and frailty for Thy quiet strength, and the power of Christ. Strengthen us to rejoice in Thee ALWAYS, regardless of the circumstances, whether we understand them or not. Give us to commit ourselves, and all that we have to Thee, our faithful Creator, and Redeemer, so that today, we will by Thy grace steadfastly persevere, abounding in the work of the Lord, KNOWING that our labor is not in vain. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad