Endurance… is it worth it?
During Lent we give up superficial things like chocolate so
that we can focus on the spiritual things in our lives. We get ready for a new
season of renewal through the Easter festival which is a Christian adaptation
of the Passover meal. Being brave about facing up to the things in our lives
that have burdened our sense of peace, is an important part of the process of
redemption. Jesus wants all of us. As we uncover the causes of sin in our
lives, it gets quite raw and we remain vulnerable to external pressure. That’s
what the ‘fast’ is for… to explore our character and invite God in to the areas
of our life we struggle with. Last week we talked about forgiving and being
forgiven… learning to let go of the things we hold on to, so that God’s justice
and grace can set to work in us.
As soon as I had posted last week’s small group blog on
forgiveness, I had to practice what I had spoken about the very next day. I experienced
an attack on my character that was like a curve ball… I didn’t see it coming.
The delivery of the attack came from a source I did not expect, nor could I
believe at the time. I was taken out for a drink by a friend who I hadn’t seen
for ages. It was a bit of a treat as I hadn’t been out for a drink with a mate
for a while (being a Dad). Sat down with the pint in my hand, I opened the
conversation with pleasantries but immediately my friend tabled an accusation
made by a friend of my wife and I, that was so shocking I couldn’t speak. Without going
into details that involve others, the basic premise was I had acted
inappropriately towards them. They had spent three months thinking about it
and could no longer keep it to themselves. So they went to my church pastor,
who then spoke to my friend who was to act as a mediator. I was stunned.
For a while, God has been gently nudging me to step out of
my comfort zone and start to take on more of a leadership role within my
church. I put myself forward to do more things around the church and have
developed a pastoral role for people in my small group by trying to actively
check on how they are and be available to them. The problem with doing that is
remembering that when we step out in faith, we are entering into a battle between
what Paul called, ‘Principalities and Powers.’(Ephesians 6:12)
At the cross, Jesus once and for all defeated the effects of
sin in the world – our rebellion from God. His sacrificial life was designed
from the very beginning to be used as a way to re-connect God to his creation
in the way it was designed to be. Jesus’ death at the hands of his fellow
countryman and in full view of the Roman Empire revealed how God has always
been at work. Jesus’ work was not to come and overthrow those in authority and
become King, as many Jews believed, but rather work with the people to reveal
the kingdom of God to those genuinely searching. As a body of people, as a
community of believer’s, we are his church. We reveal God to the world through
our expression of faith in the way we act and in what we do.
I’m not talking about church with a capital ‘C’ – the
institution of what a church denomination is. I’m talking about the promise of
the presence of God that when two or three are gathered together in the name of
Jesus, he will be there in the middle. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost
revealed that we are not alone, but are a community of believers that live by
faith. As we grow in our faith, we claim back that which we have lost through
our past, and claim the promises of God.
The enemy of this process was also at the beginning… Satan,
the devil or the ‘deceiver’ is described by Peter as a being like a prowling
lion. He absolutely hates the goodness that God has released into the world
through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and will do as much as possible to
distract believers from their mission as followers of Jesus – this was my curve
ball.
The first curve ball that was fired at me was three years
ago when a church member made an allegation about my conduct. My Christian friends,
who were witnesses to what happened, talked amongst themselves about what they
had seen. They decided that there was something I should be answerable to, and instead
of talking to me about it right away, went to my pastor with their concerns. At
the time, not one of these people had the courtesy to talk to me about their
concerns, or even offer any form of explanation or indeed any type of pastoral
support. They effectively became the judge, jury and executioner.
I was totally broken. I couldn’t believe that my church
family would do something in such and underhand way. I couldn’t understand how
they had ignored my character and personality in favour of their feeling about
what they believed to be wrong with my actions. I felt as though the whole
thing had been pulled out of all proportion. So instead of stepping out with
faith, I shrivelled back to the time before I had made a commitment to answer God’s
gentle persuasion.
So today three years later, I am back in that same place.
Curve ball No: 1 – Integrity. Only there is a difference. This time I could see
the curve ball for what it was. I was able to take myself out of the picture
and look down at the unfolding events and look for cause and effect. I
recognised that there were those with genuine feelings of being wronged, and
I could appreciate how emotional this can be. I also recognised the need for my
leadership role to be accountable to the church, but there was now this new
element... Why is this happening here and now? I recognised that there are always
cause and effect but that we are also in a battle.
Recently I was given an opportunity to play guitar in the
worship band, something I hadn’t done for three years or more; I was invited to speak in the main church service; I was involved with leading the Alpha course; our small
group had developed into a good community of friends; I had become a trustee of
the church; I had started an on-line theology course… Hopefully you get the
picture. Stepping out in faith made me more visible to attack from the enemy
and here was his first curve ball salvo designed to destabilise my walk with God and question my integrity.
Also this week, I have had the added stress of dealing with a car crash I was in the previous week; my wife’s car also broke and
needed repair. Financially due to these two events, we are spending a lot more
money on extra transport costs than we budgeted for. This is curve ball No: 2 –
Finance. We all want to be financially secure and free from debt… How you gonna cope with that Roger?
This is a good question, however I agree with the writer of
Acts 20 v24... My life is worth nothing to me unless I use it
for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others
the Good News about the wonderful grace of God. So I will endure.
There are many people in the world who don’t deserve the
misery of the situation they find themselves in. There are a large number of
people with a variety of scenarios much worse than mine that can leave some to
say ‘Where are you God?’
God promises to be with us in each and every moment of our
lives. Knowing this despite the catastrophic events that life serves, is what
builds our faith… we endure. We know that God does not want us to be burdened
by the things of this world. Jesus says that his burden is light and that those
who carry heavy burdens can find rest in him. We may have gone without food for
a few days and don’t know which way to turn to find a meal… giving this to God,
helps us to see perspective. If God’s churches are living a life in community
with one another, they will be reaching out to the hungry, the homeless, and
the lost. So when that desperate person is looking for food, somewhere in that
place, there would be a group of Christian’s obeying God’s call to serve.
And so we can endure… whatever curve ball is being thrown at
us, we can be certain of the hope that God has placed within us by his spirit.
We learn to pick ourselves up as Paul commented… we are running a race. We
learn to run with endurance. To finish today, I have posted the following verses I found on a website to do
with running the race and enduring…
Be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the
end of age. Matthew 28:20
The Lord will work out his
plans for my life. Psalm 138:8
I tell you the truth, if
you had faith even as small as the mustard seed, you could say to this
mountain, “Move from here to there,” and it would move. Nothing would be
impossible. Matthew 17:20To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given. Luke 19:26
I can do everything through
Christ, who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13
Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will
actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. Hebrews 11:1
I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord.
‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and hope.’
Jeremiah 29:11
Be an example to all believers in what you say, in
the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity. I Timothy 4:12
We know that God causes
everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called
according to his purpose for them. Romans 8:28
Let us run with endurance the race God has set
before us. Hebrews 12:1
Commit everything you do to
the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you. Psalm 37:5
With God’s help we will do
mighty things. Psalm 60:12
We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and
trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. Romans 5:3
We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We
get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. 2 Corinthians 4:9
The Lord is faithful; he
will strengthen you. 2 Thessalonians 3:3
Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be
discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold
you up with my victorious right hand. Isaiah 41:10
It is not that we think we
are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God. 2
Corinthians 3:5
Be strong and courageous,
for your work will be rewarded. Chronicles 15:7
Whatever you do, do well. Ecclesiastes 9:10
He will order his angels to
protect you wherever you go. Psalm 91:11
Anything is possible if a person
believes. Mark 9:23
The amount you give will determine the amount you
get back. Luke 6:38
I have not achieved it, but
I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies
ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize…
Philippians 3:13
Our present troubles are small and won’t last very
long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last
forever! 2 Corinthians 4:17
I will guide you along the best pathway for your
life. I will advise you and watch over you. Commit your actions to the Lord,
and your plans will succeed. Proverbs 16:3
But those who hope in the LORD will renew their
strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow
weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31
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