Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – February 26, 2016
Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth. Revelation 3:10
My high school studies were not my best effort. Many times I would wait to the last minute and spend late nights memorizing information. Yes, I could repeat a lot of facts, but I comprehended very little. My college undergraduate and graduate days were much different. Rita and I married after our freshman year—now I felt very responsible to excel at my education. Some professors rewarded those who patiently worked throughout the semester: who took to heart the lectures and completed the homework exercises. The disciplined learners were exempt from the final exam.
Christ commended the church at Philadelphia for keeping His commands and for their patient endurance. Yes, only one of the seven Asian churches rose above the world’s expectations, yet imperfectly but wholeheartedly followed Jesus. This local body of believers hid God’s word in their heart, so they would not be ashamed and feel the need to hide from their compassionate Creator. Their persistence to patiently follow the Lord gave them endurance from the Lord. God provides a way out of temptation or grace to carry on through trials. He commends perseverance.
“You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised” (Hebrews 10:36).
Is your church branded by the community for its love of the Lord, expressed in its love for people? Evidence of love may include: sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with passion and compassion, sleeping at the bedside of someone struggling to survive an illness, caring for a foster child who yearns for a parent with capacity to care, clothing the homeless or feeding the hungry. A church that loves looks for ways to meet human needs in the name of Jesus.
Those who endure in the faith make it a priority to know, understand and obey the commands of Christ. Quiet perseverance marks those who are marked by their Master’s expectations. A disciple full of the Spirit provides a safe place for those whose heart hurts. In their presence you feel no need to parse your words, only to say your peace and trust the kind listener to remove the chaff from the wheat, while they lovingly blow away the unsavory. Christ commends patient kindness that endures hard dialogue. Yes, persevering faith is exempt from eternal punishment.
“If this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment” (2 Peter 2:9).
Prayer: Heavenly Father, by Your grace make me commendable in Christ’s eyes.
Application: Where can I serve in my church, so I can quietly and kindly love others?
Related Readings: Psalm 37:33; Matthew 24:14; 1 John 3:23; Revelation 6:10
Post/Tweet this today: Persistence to patiently follow the Lord gives us endurance from the Lord. #WisdomHunters #commendedbyChrist
Worship Video: 8 minutes – Elevation Worship: Here As in Heaven
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