22 saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.”
Take Up Your Cross and Follow Jesus
23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. Luke 9:22-24 ESV
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. 25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 1 Corinthians 9:24-25 ESV
Endurance. I worked in the fitness industry for over half my adult life. It wasn’t initially by choice. I didn’t seek to do what I did, I didn’t aspire to be what I became during that season. It was GOD’s assignment for my career at the that time in my life. And in more ways than one, I learned the definition of endurance.
The endurance that an athlete develops takes a long time. I often felt that it all began in the mind first, before finding its way into the extremities of the body. Many conversations take place in the head in order to overcome the desire to give up when the body screams, “no more!”
With regular physical training, conditioning and strength are developed to overcome the next level of challenge.
Endurance under pressure can feel like an eternity. Wanting so desperately to just quit and give up because the weight of having to finish a task seems too far beyond me. But GOD …
He will fulfill that promise within you that He spoke over you from the start. It’s necessary to endure to the end.
Jackie Hill Perry articulates so well the necessity of the Christ follower to endure the journey of faith while we are on this side of Paradise. This endurance is critical to our holiness. In her compassionate and direct manner, she gets straight to the point, speaking straight from the Word of GOD. This is why I respect her.
Endurance for the Believer is uncompromising. Either you are with GOD or you are against Him; there is no half-way mark with the Lord. A little leaven defiles the entire lump. Lukewarm living defiles the soul.
since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:16 ESV
GOD never asks us to do things that He has not equipped us to do by His strength. That’s just not His nature. That is why we have the ability to do the right thing all the time. We have the capability to say, ‘no’ to the wrong things. There is nothing He will ask us to do that His grace will run short of our accomplishing it. His grace is always sufficient for every need. We can do all the things He has asked us to do, by His power within us.
Jackie challenges her listener to endure and to finish the race (this life we’ve been given), and to finish well. Uncompromised and unashamed of the gospel truth that has been poured out on us, by the mercy of GOD Himself.
Are you willing to endure to the end of your race, knowing that no matter how hard and difficult it may feel in the flesh, that the reward will far outweigh any hardship you may have had to endure to finish well?
21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ Matthew 25:21 ESV
I love you to Heaven and Back, Girlfriend ~
LindaRJohnson, TitusTwo Visionary
*Thank you to Jackie Hill Perry for this.
Titus Two 