Short Thoughts for Today

As I continue to "blog" through the book of Hebrews, today's passage of scripture will be Hebrews 10:36. In this single verse the author is inspired to write, "For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised." Make no mistake about it and do not allow anyone to convince you otherwise, as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, we have need of endurance! If you have recently come to know the Savior, you may not know what I am talking about. You will soon learn that doing "the will of God" is met with much opposition. There is opposition from the flesh, the world, and the devil.

But if you have been a Christian for any length of time, I suspect that you already know this truth. Similar admonishments are found throughout scripture. We are encouraged to not lose heart, to faint not, to hold fast, to stand firm and to persevere. We are called to keep seeking the things above, to keep sober in spirit and to press on towards the goal and towards maturity. The things that happen in a moment are positional truths. This would include our salvation, the forgiveness of our sins, our baptism in the Spirit, our entrance into the body of Christ, our position in the family of God, the establishment of our inheritance and the surety of all that is promised to those who are in Christ.

But the Christian life, although bathed in opportunities for abundance, necessitates endurance. Perhaps there is someone who is reading this right now that is saying, "I can't endure any longer". I will boldly yet lovingly say, that in and through Christ, you can. God calls us to endure but He desires not that we do so on our own, or that we attempt endurance in our own limited strength. He wishes to be our strength. Endurance is found
in Him. He may use His word or His Spirit, which dwells within us. Or He may choose to work though another member of the body of Christ as He sustains you. Welcome His provisions.

Remember that the famous words of the Apostle Paul are much more than just words. Divinely inspired, Paul wrote, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." I need not specify that "all things" include the endurance to do His will. Brothers and sisters in Christ, we will one day receive all that has been promised the children of God. With this hope before us, and the endurance that is found in Christ, let us seek to do His
will as we await His return.