MEMORY VERSE: Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalms 141-145, Proverbs 29
The moment one hears the word ‘endure,’ what comes to mind is pain, hardship, sorrows, suffering, to mention a few. Hebrew 12:2 says this: “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” “ ...Him (Jesus) endured the cross...”, implies that the cross experience, which later led to His glorification, was not a palatable experience. If the Holy Spirit opens your eyes to see what Jesus went through from the point of His arrest to His crucifixion, you will be forever grateful to Him. He was scourged until He began to bleed badly from the back, face, neck, legs, chest, etc. After that, He was forced to carry a cross - a heavy piece of furniture - to Golgotha. (Mind you, the wound He sustained from the scourging was not dressed). He was hungry and thirsty, as He had not eaten or drank anything in more than 24 hours; He was tired and weary, as He had lost a lot of blood; He was in great pain as His wounds were fresh. (I think He must have passed out a couple of times). Jesus, at this point, could have easily called down angels to defend Him and destroy the armies. This would mean that humanity is doomed but He did not. He endured the pain, torture, shame, etc. Philippians 2:9 says this: “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:”
Just as Christ endured a lot – pain, shame, sorrow – on His way to His glorification, you and I must endure these and many more too. In our Christian walk, we will be required to endure a lot of challenging situations, especially as we await the second coming of Christ. There are times in my life where i have had to eat cooked rice with no stew or soup or any seasoning, just cooked rice for many days because i had no food at home. Even the rice was a gift from someone. I did not complain or refuse to go to church because of that. Neither did i resolve to sin to get food. Thank God, things have now changed but my point is, even in your Christian walk, you will have to endure things. I do not know what you are facing now, but i want to admonish you to endure. Are you in full time work and studying at the same time? Do not give up on your education and focus on your work alone. Endure it; you will graduate soon. Are you struggling in your marriage, there is constant argument and it is taking a toll on you? Divorce is never the solution. Whatever it is that is happening, endure it because Christ is working in the background to restore peace into your marriage. Are you of a marriageable age and there is pressure to compromise? Please do not do that! Are you facing persecution at work due to your faith? Are people calling you names like 'Mother Mary' or 'Sister Martha' because you have made up your mind that your beauty will not be of outward adorning but the hidden man of the heart ( 1 Peter 3:3-4)? Endure whatever name they are calling you. Remember, you are not trying to please man or meet man’s standard of dressing. Let everyone wear whatever they like, you - daughter of the Most High - stick to godly ways of doing things. The master is coming and in that day, you will get your reward.
THOUGHTS OF THE DAY: It is not enough to endure briefly, we must endure to the end (Matthew 24:13)
PRAYER POINT: Father, please give me the grace to endure to the end.
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Bro Samuel | Reaching the world for Jesus.
