The Encouragement to Continue

September 24, 2018 by Leave a Comment

hope, encouragement, 2 Timothy 4:1-2. patience, persistenceWhoever you are, wherever you are, you have a job to do in the Kingdom of God.  As God’s chosen and beloved child you are blessed with talents, abilities, affinities and opportunities to minister and to serve in a way that is as unique as you are.  No matter your situation or location God has a special task for you that will require you to be completely dependent on him to accomplish but will bless and complete you in a way that nothing else can.

Some of us are still in the beginning stages of our calling while others have been working and serving for many years now.  Whether young or old, new believer or seasoned saint we have the responsibility to work and to serve as God directs and to be diligent in our appointed tasks.

Hopefully we can feel energized and excited about our work but realistically we will experience struggles, hardships and even discouragement at some points along the way.  We have an enemy who is tirelessly working to accuse, disrupt and discourage our efforts but, according to God’s word, if we are patient and persistent then we will be granted the strength and the resources to overcome all obstacles.

I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and because of His appearing and His kingdom: 2 Proclaim the message; persist in it whether convenient or not; rebuke, correct, and encourage with great patience and teaching.   2 Timothy 4:1-2 (HCSB)

Paul’s encouragement to Timothy in 2 Timothy 4 is incredibly beneficial during times of struggle and hardship.  Paul’s charge to Timothy is a charge to us as well and we can apply the same words and principles to our own situations just as I am sure Timothy did when he first read Paul’s letter so many years ago.  Just as we should, Paul wanted Timothy to know why he was working (because of Jesus Christ appearing and his kingdom) and why it was so important that he continue what he had started (judgement is sure and is coming).

From Paul’s words we can see his experience and his wisdom in being a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  He knew it wasn’t always convenient (often it is not) or easy and, more often than not, takes great patience.  What we want to rush through or avoid altogether God often has us face head-on and struggle against for a period of time.  We might not understand why but still God asks us to persist and to be patient within our circumstances because he is working all things out for the good for those who love him and are called to serve.

What we must not do is stop or give up.  Souls hang in the balance and God has been too good to us and too faithful for us to give up on him.  He always has what we need and all that is required of us is that we stay dependent and connected to him in prayer and thanksgiving.

Whatever you are facing today does not compare with God’s resources and awesome power to overcome.  Stay vigilant and focused as God works out his perfect plan for you and remember that your reward is coming and great will be the day of his returning.

 

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Waiting Is The Hard Part

March 23, 2015 by 4 Comments

patience, Acts 1, Holy SpiritFor many of us (myself included) patience does not come naturally.  We want what we want and we want it now.  This is just human nature and without proper instruction and God’s help we will remain impatient creatures indefinitely.

I believe that the disciples were impatient men.  Notice their question to Jesus in the first chapter of Acts:

So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6)

They had reason to be excited.  Jesus was alive!  He really had come back from the dead!

I am sure that the disciples believed that if Jesus could overcome death then he could do anything.  Not only that, they believed that Jesus would continue on with them and eventually overthrow the oppressive Roman government and begin his earthly rule as a king.  Their question to Jesus reveals their impatience and the type of salvation that they were looking for. (an earthly one rather than a spiritual one)

So they asked Jesus a simple question:  “Hey, is it time for you to restore Israel and fix our political situation?” was the gist of what they were saying.  And how did Jesus answer them?

He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority;  but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” (Acts 1:7-8)

He tells them that the knowledge that they are asking for is beyond them and belongs solely in the dominion of God.  Then he redirects their inquiry and their energy into an altogether different task.  They are to be witnesses of God’s grace and message of redemption when they have received the power of the Holy Spirit.

Put in another way, Jesus was telling the disciples that they would receive all that they needed (the power of the Holy Spirit – which is now available to all believers all the time!) and that they would be made perfectly fit for the task at hand and not to worry about what would happen when because those details belong in God’s hands.

I don’t know about you but I find this passage incredibly comforting.  Like the disciples I sometimes (ok, frequently) ask God questions about “when” or “why”.  And sometimes He answers me.  But more often that not He tells me exactly what Jesus told the disciples:  “I have given you all that you need.  I am making you perfect for the task at hand.  Be my witness and leave the “when” and the “why” up to me”.

Are you a redeemed child of the King?  If so, rejoice that God is making you perfect.  Waiting may be hard and we may not know or understand God’s timing but we can know and understand His heart.  And that is enough for now.

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