"It (love) always perseveres....." I Corinthians 13:7
Through many years of
ministry I have been privileged to share life with hundreds of people in about
every life circumstance imaginable. One thing I have learned from walking
through these experiences is the power of the human will.
I have seen those
strong-willed people who clung to faith and steeled their resolve and endured
extremely challenging challenges. They just simply refused to quit believing or
praying or praising or hoping. Their perseverance brought them victory - some
in this life and some in the next life. I did my best to inspire them and
encourage them but they inspired me!
There have been others who
were not able to persevere in their faith or maintain their hope. Some gave up
on faith. Some gave up on life. They broke my heart.
It has amazed me how often
I've seen a terminally ill person decide they have suffered enough and decide
they want to die. Within hours they die. I have seen others fight and refuse to
give up and stretch their lives far longer than anyone expected.
The Apostle Paul was a
strong-willed person before he found Christ but the love of God added to his
ability to endure. He is a great example of what happens when a strong-willed
person surrenders his will to a Will stronger than his own!
Here are a few examples in
his own words:
"More than that, we
rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and
endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not
put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the
Holy Spirit who has been given to us." Romans 5:3
"And let us not grow
weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give
up." Galatians 6:9
"Therefore, since we
are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every
weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race
that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our
faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the
shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who
endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow
weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted
to the point of shedding your blood. And have you forgotten the exhortation
that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of
the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him." Hebrews 12:1-1
"Therefore take up
the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and
having done all, to stand firm." Ephesians 6:13
Do you have the will to
persevere? Are you determined to stand your ground and never retreat?
You will if you will give
your will to Him!
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