Every so often a picture
appears in the local newspaper featuring a couple that married for 50 or 60
years. I look at it and quietly congratulate them.
Last week I spent a
couple of days at a retreat led by a man who has served the Lord and His Church
for 50 years! In that time, he was pastor of just 4 congregations, serving one
for 21 years. I was inspired.
A friend on Facebook posted a picture
of his car that has a little over 300,000 miles on it and he’s still driving it
to work every day. These examples speak to me about an often undervalued
quality of character: steadfastness.
Peter wrote to Christians who
are in difficult, testing circumstances with a promise of the Spirit. He
does not offer to release us from trials! He gives us strength to endure
them. "The God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in
Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and
make you strong, firm and steadfast." (1 Peter 5:10, NIV) He
uses 3 words to make his point – ‘strong, firm, steadfast!’
Our Lord desires to make us solid on whom
He can depend.
We must not confuse steadfastness with stubbornness. I know a
few stubborn people who refuse to say, “I was wrong” or “It’s time to adapt.”
They are stuck in a certain era, or they have confused their own prejudice with
principle, or perhaps they are so fearful of change that they have retreated
into a fortress from which they cannot be dislodged. This is not the kind of
steadfast the Spirit desires in us.
The Lord looks for people who
will stand up under pressure, resist temptation, keep their focus, and finish
well. They are not quitters. They do not dabble in this, then that. They will
not chase fads or seek an easy place. They show up on time, prepared, and stay
‘til the job is done. Their attitude is like that of the unofficial motto
of the US Postal service: "Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of
night, stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed
rounds." (This quote from Herodotus, 503 BC, who spoke of the
couriers in the Persian empire and it is chiseled on the face of a New York City post
office)
We love to romanticize the
perseverance of those who finish well. Truthfully, steadfastness is never
easy. 50th wedding anniversaries are celebrated by real people
who reject temptation, who learn how to deal with conflict, and who know the
value of saying, “I’m sorry.” Those who serve in Christian ministry for
50 years don’t leap from excitement to success to affirmation. They
"preach the Word …in season and out of season; …with great
patience" (2 Timothy 4:2, NIV) all the while keeping their eyes on the
eternal prize of their high calling.
Are you steadfast? Are you
tempted to quit today?
Are you prepared to finish
what you start, stick with that project as you adapt to new demands, willing to
nurture relationships even when they are hard?
Pray for faith to live in the
promise of the Spirit and finish well.
Here’s a word from the
Word. Take note of the middle part that describes the way in which the
steadfast person is prospered.
"Blessed is the man
who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.
But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.
But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
He is like a tree
planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers.
Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away.
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish." (Psalm 1, NIV)
which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers.
Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away.
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish." (Psalm 1, NIV)
___________
One Thing Remains (Your
Love Never Fails)
Higher than the mountains
that I face,
Stronger than the power of
the grave,
Constant in the trial and
the change,
One thing remains,
One thing remains!
Your love, Your love, Your
love will never change.
Your love never fails,
It never gives up,
Never runs out on me!
Your love.
On and on and on and on it
goes,
It overwhelms and
satisfies my soul,
And I never ever have to
be afraid,
One thing remains,
One thing remains!
In death, in life, I'm
confident and
Cover'd by the power of
Your great love.
My debt is paid.
There's nothing that
Can separate my heart,
from Your great love.
Brian Johnson | Christa Black
Gifford | Jeremy Riddle
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by Bethel Music Publishing)
ChristaJoy Music Publishing
(Admin. by Bethel Music Publishing)
Mercy / Vineyard Publishing
(Admin. by Vineyard Music USA)
CCLI License # 810055
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