Walking With Jesus (Perseverance)預覽

Perseverance and Patience

The Lord wants us to be persistent. The word "persistent" means to persevere in difficult situations. The opposite of "persistent" is "discouraged." Persistence is one important life characteristic of a mature Christian. Without perseverance, it will be difficult for us to achieve a goal. Perseverance also means endurance in action. That does not mean that we are lounging in soft chairs while waiting for God to do something. We can see the picture of this endurance in the soldiers who face a war (Heb. 12:1), the diligent ants that carry food into its hiding holes (Prov. 6:6-11), and the snails that diligently walk across the high wall.

Perseverance is different from patience. Perseverance deals with situations, while patience deals with people. A person can endure difficult situations but lose patience with loved ones. Moses persevered against King Pharaoh of Egypt but lost patience with the people he led (Num. 20:1-12). God could bring water out of the rock, but He could not force Moses to be patient. Patience is related to self-control (Prov. 25:28).

However, perseverance and patience must go hand in hand if we want to grow spiritually well. Lord Jesus could restore Malcus' ears, and what was done by Lord Jesus had automatically changed Peter's heart (Luke 22:50-51). Likewise, Lord Jesus can perform miracles of healing for someone who is sick (if that is His will), but God's greatest miracle is not complete healing from the disease but your perseverance and patience in dealing with the disease.

In conclusion, the Lord wants all of us to persevere in the face of everything. Do everything diligently, and you will succeed in the Lord.

Reflection:

1. In what ways do you often find it difficult to persevere? In what ways has patience been difficult for you?

2. What often prevents you from persevering and being patient?

Application: 

Persevere in all situations and be patient with those around you.