Yes, I am blogging on a Saturday night. And no, that does not make me a nerd. It makes me married to a man who loves to be at home. And that is fine with me! I am sitting here with a sweatshirt on, penguin pajama pants, a glass of wine, and my Bible. And my handsome husband is not 10 feet away playing playstation. Deja vous??
I'm sure my blog readers know who John MacArthur is, right? Well we love, love, love him! Mike gets daily devotionals through a group at work, and below is one of the best, and most convicting of them all.
"...And in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness." 2 Peter 1:6
Godly perseverance is a sure evidence of true salvation.
Commentator Michael Green has this to say about the believer who displays biblical perseverance: "The mature Christian does not give up. His Christianity is like the steady burning of a star rather than the ephemeral brilliance (and speedy eclipse) of a meteor." The Greek word translated "perseverance" in today's verse (hupomone) refers to consistent endurance in righteousness and faithfulness in resisting temptation.
The precise meaning for hupomone is hard to pinpoint. There is no exact English equivalent, and it's not common in classical Greek; but the Bible often uses it in reference to the toils and troubles that are unwelcome in life and produce inconvenience and harm. This word even includes the idea of death, as in the Jewish writings in which hupomone speaks of spirtitual stamina that empowers people to die for their faith in God.
Despite its scriptural associations with painful difficulties an death, hupomone has a positive meaning. William Barclay notes, "Hupomone does not simply accept and endure; there is always a forward look in it. It is said of Jesus...that for the joy set before him, he endured the Cross, despising the shame (Hebrews 12:2). That is hupomone, Christian steadfastness. It is the courageous acceptance of everything that life can do to us and the transmuting of even the worst event into another step on the upward way."
Godliness is at the heart of scriptural perseverance. The Greek for "godliness" (eusebeia) denotes a practical awareness of God in every area of life-a God-consciousness. The word could also be translated "true religion" or "true worship". It gives God His rightful place by worshiping Him properly, something that is not often done in the contemporary church. Genuine public worship is more than "relevant" programs, new rituals, or catchy music- it contains much reverence for God.
If you are truly a Christian, you will also revere God in your devotional life and obediently persevere in His will daily. You will rejoice and be aware of God in every detail of life.
This makes me think about my time spent in devotion. Do I persevere in life, focusing solely on God and His will?? Do I desire my time alone in Scripture? Am I hungry to know God more? I love that this devotion says we need to persevere through everything life can do to us...with our eyes focused on Him!
I am always amazed, and ashamed, when I read stories (okay, blogs) of those who have had a hard time in life and persevere in godliness! Would I do the same?? My daily complaints about the 'harshness' of my life tell me I might not be so gracious. Lord forgive me! Check out these two blogs and be inspired and blessed! I continue to go back to read the whole blogs again and again because I am utterly amazed at their faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Sullivans
http://bandssullivan.blogspot.com/
The Fishers
http://www.fisherags.com/
My prayer for myself and Mike is that we will strive daily to seek Him! That we will yearn for those moments in the Word, and we will seek nothing more than to grow closer to the One who made us, saved us, and continues to show us His grace and provision. I pray this for you all as well!
1 comments:
great post! what a great way to start my sunday morning :)
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