29 January
Endurance in the Race
JAMES 1:1-4
The Christian life is an awesome journey that is meant to bring fulfillment and contentment, along with great rewards. Of course, if someone asked me about the Christian life, I would also have to say that it is full of hardship, difficulty, misunderstanding, rejection, doubt, and failure. It is not all pain, suffering, and heartache, but neither is it all happiness. More than likely, someone is going to ask, "Why would I want to be Christian if it's going to hurt?"
The simple answer is that we will never be what God intends until we trust the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior. No amount of riches, power, or success will satisfy us like an intimate relationship with God. Becoming a Christian does not suddenly dry up all the present or future suffering in our life. The difference is that we now know the loving Father, who has absolute control over everything we endure. He promises to love us through it all and care for us. And He promises to limit every trial so that we can bear it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)
With each trial, we mature in our walk. While none of us likes pain, difficulty produces the character qualities that enable us to stay on the path God chooses. We will not become discouraged to the point of quitting if we respond with endurance. The result of endurance is that we learn to look above the things that distract us—like criticism, rejection, and setbacks—and we increasingly find ourselves able to keep our eyes focused on Jesus.
URL:http://www.intouch.org/intouch/site.show_page?p_id=76096&p_devotional_date=01%2F29%2F2005
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