Word for the Day May 3
By: Evang. Cascille Hammack
"You need to persevere so that after you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised."
Hebrews 10:36
God has called us to persevere. In 2 Cor. 1:8,9 Paul describes his experience
in Asia, "We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia.
We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed in our hearts
we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises from the
dead." He goes on to say in 2 Cor. 2:10,11, "He has delivered us from such a deadly peril and He will deliver
us. On Him we have set our hope the He will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers of many."
It is not a popular message today, but a true believer will suffer as Christ did, but will also overcome, that
His power may be manifested in their lives. The intensity and the weight of the trial can be as Paul said, "far
beyond our ability to endure," but it is never beyond His ability to endure. 1 Peter 2:20-23 says,"...But
if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ
suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His steps. 'He committed no sin and no deceit was found
in His mouth.' When they hurled insults at Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats. Instead,
He entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly."
1 Peter 4:1,2 explains, "Therefore, since Christ suffered
in His body, arm yourself with the same attitude, because He who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result,
he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God." In 1 Thes.
2"2 Paul tells of his perseverance in the face of suffering inflicted upon him by men, "We had previously suffered
and been insulted in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you His gospel in spite of strong
opposition." He declares in 1 Peter 4:4-6 "...we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel.
We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts. You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a
mask to cover up greed-God is our witness. We were not looking for praise from men, not from you or anyone else."
Paul explains in Galatains 2:20 the evidence of a true believer, "I gave been crucified with Christ and
I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved
me and gave Himself for me." He asks the Galatians in Galatians 3:4, "Have you suffered so much for nothing-if
it really was for nothing?"
