The Call To Persevere

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hldude33

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Apr 28, 2010
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“The Call To Persevere”
By Zach Wood
James 1:4
Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

Here’s a word I’d like to put in our minds for this week. The word is “perseverance”.

When we see that word, we know it doesn’t mean anything that comes easy. When someone has perseverance, they put effort into what they do. People who persevere usually don’t give up quickly. They try and try and try with determination and exhaust every option possible before going another route. For many of us, perseverance is something we would like to obtain, but is often hard because it requires much more than we’re willing to give.

This passage in James is encouraging and challenging for us in that it takes great effort often to last through the trying times of life. Sometimes we give up too easily and expect others to help. Sometimes we just don’t want to put forth the effort needed and we procrastinate what needs to be done. All of us fall victim to this. It is through perseverance that we learn and gain wisdom and experience so that we become stronger for future challenges that come our way.

James is clear that we must have perseverance. But, it doesn’t come through our own effort. Jesus Christ gives us the strength we need to do the things we need to accomplish. We simply cannot do it on our own. We need perseverance, but we also must realize we need Jesus Christ to be our guide so that we can persevere.

Perseverance builds strength and character into our walk with God. If we cannot persevere, we have little hope. We give easily. We don’t put in the effort needed to grow stronger. It’s in the times of perseverance that we seem to grow the most and learn more than we ever have before. God alone gives us the strength we need to persevere through all the situations life throws at us. We all need perseverance.
 

laid renard

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Apr 2, 2013
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This is something I often pray for. For I am in great need of it. I know I need His strength, and His guidance. And yes, it is very exhausting. Even with His help. Imagine without....
 

Secondhand Lion

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Jan 30, 2012
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Perseverance is one of those scary things to ask for, in my opinion. It is similar to patience. There is only one way to get it...go through the trials. If one wants the patience\perseverance of Job they must endure the trials of Job. If one wants to learn to persevere, they must always have a tough walk.

The good news is, God is faithful and will see us through, no matter what the circumstance as laid renard pointed out.
 
Feb 12, 2013
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It important for us to stay strong in Christ even at our weakest continue by Him.
 

laid renard

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Apr 2, 2013
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As a Christian, there really is no other thing to do. I have tried to give up in the past, but I don't, only cause I don't no what it entails to give up. That's gotta be the Christ in me. I want to give up sometimes, but I don't know how. We are stuck to each other for eternity. B)
 
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aspen

“"The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few
Apr 25, 2012
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do you really think "perseverance" means "believing in the theory of Christianity" really hard until you die or Christ returns? Sounds more like holding your breathe to me....

what it actually means is choosing to love unconditionally until you die or Christ returns. yes, you have to believe Christ died of unconditional love, but it needs to transform your heart into a lifelong, eternal lover. this state is salvation
 

Wormwood

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I find it interesting, aspen, that this does not at all seem to be the message Paul gives to the Areopagus in Acts 17 nor the message Peter gave in Acts 2. Let us not confuse what the Gospel is with what the Gospel does. Paul said the Gospel is the "power of God to save all who believe." Its not "a message of love to make those who believe more loving." I think the moral example is a very limited view of the cross if that is what you are proposing.