Perseverance calling

20-22Just then a woman who had hemorrhaged for twelve years slipped in from behind and lightly touched his robe. She was thinking to herself, "If I can just put a finger on his robe, I'll get well." Jesus turned—caught her at it. Then he reassured her: "Courage, daughter. You took a risk of faith, and now you're well." The woman was well from then on." Matthew 9: 20-22

"...through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we[a] rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3Not only so, but we[b] also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope." Romans 5: 2-4

"We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing. 4Therefore, among God's churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.
5All this is evidence that God's judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering."

The Bible is pretty straight-forward about some things, including today's them of perseverance, the keeping on attitude. Paul thought it to be one of the most important gifts one could have. Suffering produces perseverance, perseverance produces character and character produces hope. Hope is simply the bargaining tool that produces a bit of faith, and faith produces salvation.

When the trials come, Paul says persevere.
When the trouble stacks up, persevere.
When the pain doubles, persevere.
When the waves lash at the side of the boat, persevere. Keep going. Keep trying. Keep hoping.

Peter wrote, "5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love." The order might be random, or it might not be. If it's not, it is interesting that Peter puts perseverance next to godliness. Certainly God has persevered, having the patience to put up with all we've done since creation.

Finally, the writer of the 12th chapter of the book of Hebrews tells us, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."

When the things are about to get bad, fix our eyes upon Jesus. When the struggle is too much to expect many to be able to take it, turn your eyes to Jesus and hang on. Run with perseverance, run with stick-to-it-ness. Run with pride, in all humility. Run with joy, in the heat of the moment. run with I'm never going to give up attitude, because we have the Spirit of God as our timer inside us.

Friends, Jesus walked that lonely highway by himself, right up to the cross. We, however, don't have to do that. Jesus is with us, all along the way. Hopefully that gives us the courage, the inspiration, the persevering attitude that we're going to get this done.

Keep going. Keep trying. Keep plugging. Keep holding on if that's all you can do.

After all, what else do we have to do.