Persevere

“May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and
Christ’s perseverance” (2 Thessalonians 3:5).

We have all known of God’s love and that our hearts should
be directed into it. But we may not have known or thought of the steadfastness
(RSV) or the perseverance (NIV) of Christ. What is it? And how was it
shown, and how should our hearts be directed into it? Hebrews 12:1-4 answers
all three questions:

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of
witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles,
and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our
eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set
before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right
hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful
men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. In your struggle against
sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.”

He endured the cross by keeping His eyes fixed on the joy
beyond the cross. We consider Him who endured. We lay aside everything that
hinders and entangles, and we persevere, keeping our eyes fixed on
Jesus.

Written March 1987.

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