Just some early morning thoughts from me to you…
“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 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 has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.”
Hebrews 12: 1-3 (NKJV)
Another week in the books.
With a good bit of uncertainty, a few surprises, family Covid 19 testing, and continuing unrest and disruption around the country.
Another week ahead, with ongoing Coronavirus concerns, grinding economic recovery, political campaigns, destructive violence in cities around our nation, and a lot of good people seeking the next and best way ahead.
How do we deal with all of that?
How do we move on? How about just getting through the next day?
The writer of Hebrews suggests we “run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus…consider Him who endured such hostility…lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.”
Easy enough. Okay, maybe not in our current day-to-day world.
Then we remember that “endurance” translated from the Greek means “cheerful endurance.” It’s not an endurance which waits passively, but an endurance which refuses to be knocked off course by obstacles before us, or the distractions of voices and noise around us.
Easy enough?
Well, still maybe not that easy. But if we have asked Christ into our lives, the writer suggests that with Him we will get there.
And so with our eyes and hearts fixed on Christ the writer of Hebrews calls us to press on, to persevere and endure cheerfully and confidently because of the Hope we have within us, which defines our lives.
While Prime Minister of England, Winston Churchill was the guest speaker at the commencement exercises at Cambridge University in England. After a long and beautiful introduction, he stood up to address the group.
He leaned over the podium toward the microphone to offer them his thoughts on this special occasion in their lives as they approached the uncertainties of a world beyond their diplomas.
The students, faculty and staff sat on the edge of their seats, ready to hang on every word this great statesman would share with them. After looking back-and-forth across the array of faces peering at him, he cleared his throat and began—
“Never give up. Never. Never. Never.”
And with that, he sat down. Finished. He had said all he came to say. He had said enough. He really had said it all.
Coronavirus concerns, grinding economic recovery, political campaigns, destructive violence in cities around our nation, and a lot of good people seeking the next and best way ahead.
Uncertainty, a few surprises, and continuing unrest and disruption.
And we are to endure cheerfully and confidently with God’s power and peace—fixed on the Hope of Christ which we have invited within our lives.
A Hope which will define and direct our lives, now and throughout eternity.
If you haven’t yet, maybe it’s time to invite Christ into your life. Invite that Hope within you. Claim that Hope. Embrace it.
Then press on with that Hope of Christ—into all whom God has created you to be and to do. Today, and through eternity now assured to be with Him.
Then, never give up. He’s got it, and He’s got you.
In His Name–Scott
