ENDURE!

By Alexandra Copeland

Sometimes, as Christians, we don’t want to hear what we NEED to hear. We only want to hear words that make us feel good about what we’re doing, even if what we’re doing is against the Word and Will of God. We must remember that Heavenly Father has called us to Godliness. In 1Peter 1:16(NLT), He said “You must be holy because I am holy.” To be holy is to be set apart and made sacred. Holiness is an attribute of God’s nature that is unlike any other in the universe, and because of the finished work of Christ, we have the distinct privilege of walking in holiness every moment of each day. As God’s children, we get to bask in the set-apartness of our Heavenly Father and enjoy all the blessings that it brings. We also need to be aware that the devil doesn’t want us to be holy, and he is busy doing everything he can to keep us from it. If you’re in jeopardy right now of falling into one of the devil’s traps, this is a message you need to hear. 

In James 1:2(NLT), the apostle wrote, “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.”  James didn’t say, “IF troubles come your way…” He said ‘WHEN’ they come, which informs us that troubles will most certainly arrive, because they are a part of life. The reason that God wants us to consider troubles an opportunity for great joy is because they don’t last always. God promised in His Word that He would bring us out of them. This is why we can have joy. It’s not because we are gluttons for punishment. It is because we know the faithfulness of God, that He backs up His Word and is sure to deliver us. 

All suffering and pain has its root in the devil, but let us be clear; some of it is made worse because we are refusing to listen and pay attention to the Lord. He offers the guidance that will lead us out of our pain. Proverbs 3:26(NLT) tells us, “for the LORD is your security. He will keep your foot from being caught in a trap.” Traps are concocted and manipulated by the devil, because he doesn’t want you to receive the prize you’ve been praying to receive; he doesn’t want you to have the victory, but through Christ it’s yours! If you keep the faith, you will receive it! 

Many of us are going through situations that are very challenging. If you were the same person you were ten years ago, you probably wouldn’t be able to handle things nearly as well as you are today. 

You might have even endured some tough times in the past, and you didn’t think you’d make it through then either. Financially—emotionally—mentally—physically, you didn’t know how you’d pull through, but the Lord stepped in and worked it out. You’re where you are today because He made a way and brought you through all that heartache and pain. You can’t ever forget for whence you came, nor can you forget the One who made a way and made it possible for you to still be here today.  

James 1:3-4(NLT) says, “3For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.” Understand that your endurance is the prize. It’s the thing that is so important to God, because it is the true measure of your faith. God wants you to grow in Godliness and faith, so that you become convinced that standing on His Word is the absolute best way.  

Jesus Christ tells us in Luke 21:19(NIV),"Stand firm, and you will win life."  This is how you preserve your life, by standing firm on God’s truth and trusting in Him. We must remember that when we invited the Lord Jesus Christ into our lives, we actually gave our lives to him. We made a commitment to live for and through him, and the enemy is going to test this commitment by trying to get us to doubt God. The plot of the enemy is to get us to go off the path that God has laid before us, so that we deny our set-apartness. We can’t fall for this. The stakes are too high.  

People may be telling you that your breakthrough is about to happen. You may even be a little tired of hearing the word ‘breakthrough’, but don’t let yourself become so numb to hope that you lose your enthusiasm for the work Christ is doing. You’re a holy vessel. There’s nothing mundane about you, because Heavenly Father has handpicked you and set you apart for His purpose. Don’t become impatient. Endure! Wait on the Lord! Because Hebrews 10:36 tells us that our patient endurance is required to continue to do God’s will and to receive what He has promised. ■

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved. 

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.