“For you have need of endurance"

“For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise…” ~Heb. 10:36

Nick,

In our modern-day world, few have the knowledge of what endurance truly means. The first use of the word was in the late 1400s. (Which brings up an interesting point: We translate the Greek word for patience as endurance in the cases like the one above. Thus we know that endurance is closely linked to patience.) One question we have to ask is what did the author mean? First of all, who was he writing to? Twice he uses patience in the context of lasting or continuing. As the title of the book indicates, it was written to the Hebrews. At the end of the book, however, he is talking to all Christians. Think of what these early Christians were going through. They were being crucified, burned at the stake, starved to death, cut in pieces, and many, many more tortures. Many times they would be given a dungeon cell by themselves, away from the light. Think of all the pain involved and then think about suffering that yourself. Think about pain coursing through every nerve, every tissue, every fiber of your body. About people mocking and slandering you at the door of your cell, while thirst loneliness and hunger almost overcome you. How fitting this passage was and is for believers. It is during these times of persecution that we truly understand the meaning of endure. When we have persevered with complete faith in God and with boundless joy, knowing that our Lord suffered worse for us, but that we have the opportunity to suffer for Him, then we can say, without boasting, that we have endured.

In America, enduring is many times either continuing to workout until you’ve reached your goal weight, or being successful in your attempts to stop smoking, or training up your children with loving discipline. We view, as a nation, jogging a few miles without stopping as a feat of endurance, and in a way it is, but it rarely enters our minds that people have had to sit on iron chairs while a fire raged beneath them. Don’t let that thought revolt you. Rather, you should be longing to show your love of Christ, no matter what the cost, even if it means being tied hand and foot and then being thrown to an angry bull. As Americans, we have an easy lifestyle, untainted by the persecutions that, say, the Chinese are currently facing. Some are threatened at gunpoint to denounce Christ. You can probably guess what they do and what the outcome is. They would rather be shot than degrade God’s holy name. As Americans, we are often forgetful, not remembering the sacrifices that have been made for Christ Jesus our Lord and ignoring the fact that we are to make sacrifices as well. As Americans, we fear pain, even the thought of pain. As Christians, however, we should welcome the opportunity to make a stand for Christ. The only question left is, what path will you follow? The path of the American, easy and carefree? Or the path of the Christian, potentially fraught with danger and suffering? Where do your loyalties lie?

Your brother in Christ,

Corey

Glorify God, Stand Strong, and Lead

One of the most recent additions to our group has started writing his own letters. Here is one that I hope will encourage you as much as it has encouraged me:

_____________________________________________________

Corey,

Sorry it took so long to answer your first letter. I agree with you that there are very few godly men standing up for what they believe. So many people are distracted by the things of the world. For example, the media today is growing more and more popular, seeking to entertain us, but rarely with anything good and wholesome.

Very few men are leading their families, teaches their sons and daughters to be godly men and women. As a result, there is an increasing tendency in the youth of today to want to satisfy their flesh, rather then seeking the Lord, so that they might be truly satisfied.

There is a song circulating today that talks about a man who is so busy in life that he misses the true purpose in life. Just like that man, we tend to read parts of the Bible that we like the best and live by the rules those passages teach. We try to make God into something that can fit into our lives, rather making God the focus of our lives.

It seems as if people have forgotten that there is a purpose to their lives. If you go up to a person in the streets and ask them what they are living for, they will most likely give a worldly, self-centered answer. Only when the Lord moves their heart do you get a question in response, “I am going to Hell: what must I do to be saved?” However, very few people are asked this question, because most people are sitting at home, rather than evangelizing in the street.

Godly leaders need to rise up in this generation and stand strong in the faith. They need to direct people to Christ and guide people to lives that glorify God. May God bless you this week.

Brian

Specks and Sploches

“And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your eye?” ~Matt. 7:3

Nick,

As I’ve written in times past, our nation, and in fact our whole world is in dire need of Christian leaders. As men, we are commanded to become those leaders. One of the most uncommon, yet most necessary characteristics to be found in a leader is the ability to admit his own weaknesses. A leader is just that: a leader. He should always be the first to admit that he was wrong and also the first to forgive. He is to take the initiative in all situations. Why is it important for a leader to admit his faults? 1) So that he might remain humble. 2) So that he can more easily correct the faults of others. I’m sure we all can give examples of times when we got frustrated, not because someone is trying to correct a fault, but because they are unwilling to admit their own part in the argument. Before we tackle any situation, we first need to acknowledge our inability to solve the problem by ourselves, and then we need to pray to the Lord, asking Him to give us His strength and wisdom. The founding fathers, while penning the Constitution, prayed to the Lord before they did any work whatsoever. Why is this so remarkable? In part because it is the complete opposite of what would happen if a similar project was undertaken today. It is also remarkable, and inspiring, that these men, some of the wisest in the world at that time, still recognized their own weaknesses and inability to lead without the Lord’s help.

I want to bring up one last topic. One other requirement of a godly leader is that he able to lead his family in worship and that he is able to explain why they, as a family, believe what they believe. One of my goals for 2011 is to write position papers on all major doctrines, such as baptism, communion, predestination, etc. I encourage all of you to write your own papers, whether as part of your morning devotions or as a summer project. When we all have finished them we can meet and discuss them. These papers, besides requiring you to do a lot of research, will be useful to you later in life. When you forget the reason why we baptize infants or why we baptize with sprinkling and immersion, you can look at these papers and remind yourself of the evidence of Scripture. As you continue through the coming weeks and the rest of this year, may the Lord bless you labors and may He give you bountiful harvests in mind, body, and spirit. May you never cease to worship and fear and praise our great Redeemer.

Your brother in Christ,

Corey