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July 10, 2024
- By Ed Powell
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"For a man's ways are in full view of the LORD and he examines all his paths." Proverbs 5:21
Perseverance and love are two virtues that should be characteristic of every Christian's life. How needful it is for us to persevere in our spiritual walk. We all face the everyday concerns, unexpected adversities, and difficulties that we need to pursue with perseverance. But there is a deeper and subtler adversary that seeks to defeat, discourage, and destroy all Christians as they seek to please the Lord. Our archenemy is Satan himself. For this battle we need the full armor of God and need to pursue our spiritual journey with determined perseverance. How do we view this encounter?
We say, "The Lord sees the path we take. He is knowledgeable of the decisions we make. He is conscious of the life we live." We fail to recognize that God's plan and purpose for us is much deeper and more intensive than this. He is concerned with the attitude that affects how we live...the motive that underlies the things we do...the principles that mold and shape our actions...the priorities that determine our decisions...and the love that abounds in our lives and reflects our spiritual commitment.
God looks at our hearts, not just at the external appearances that so often are superficial and untrustworthy. He wants our lives to "be constrained by the love of Christ" and lived under the control and authority of His lordship. It is only when our lives are sincere and open to His leading, when we lean on Him and trust Him implicitly, that we find the needed sufficiency of God to persevere and be more than conquerors in Christ.
We conclude sometimes that our lives are of little importance, that we are insignificant, and that our accomplishments are of little consequence. However, when properly viewed as a small but vital part of God's plan, they become of infinite and eternal importance! Have you ever thought that no one else can fill the particular place that God has placed you in? That no one else can take on the tasks that God has laid in your pathway, the ministry that God has entrusted to you, and the gift that He has given you? NO ONE ELSE CAN DO what God has chosen for you to do. He has equipped you to be used for His glory in a specific way. If you shun your ministry, God can make sure His plan and purpose is carried out, but YOU will lose out on the blessing God intended for you. That's why it is so important for us to persevere with purpose, yielding to His control and power.
God seeks to know if we will be His servants whether or not we will be praised for it. If we will be found faithful when the way is dark and difficult. If we will stand true when life seems to overwhelm us. If we will persevere when confronted with life's adversities. If His love will be manifested through us when the task is unlovely. It is not enough to simply say, "I'm a Christian." The challenge to every believer is, "Will you take up your cross daily and follow me?" Will you be His disciple? This takes commitment, devotion, and the surrender of our will to His, abiding in Christ, and a life that is characterized by determined perseverance with purpose, that manifests the love of God. Are you willing to be an instrument in His hands, for His glory?
© 2007 by Ed Powell. Used by permission.
This page was reprinted by permission from: http://litmin.org/dare.php?date=2024-07-10&print=1
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