FROM THE SERVANT GENERAL
OUR THEME FOR 2025
(Part 13)
ENDURING TRIALS
February 4, 2024
Today’s reading: Hebrews 12:1-4
Life, especially as we strive to strictly follow God and His ways, will inevitably bring challenges and even woes. Such a godly life is contrary to the ways of the devil and of the world, which will then oppose how we move on and cause stumbling blocks along the way. When trials become hard, the choice then is to give in and even give up, or to endure and persevere through the lows in life.
This is when we look even more to Jesus, and what he himself endured. In him we have our hope for better times.
First, we persevere in prayer, as prayer is our lifeline with God. In prayer, we can remain steadfast, “keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith.” (v.2a). He can help us navigate our way through the difficulties, which he himself endured. He also becomes our example, so we followers can always look to and imitate our one leader.
Second, we rejoice in hope, as in Jesus our hope abounds. We see that “for the sake of the joy that lay before him he endured the cross, despising its shame” (v.2b). Right before our eyes might be great woes and pain, but like Jesus we are able to look beyond, to look to the fruits of suffering, to being one with him in embracing his cross, to anticipating being seated within the throne room of God. All these should fill us with joy.
Third, with all the above, we will be able to endure in affliction. Jesus “endured such opposition from sinners” (v.3a). He has shown us the way. He kept on till the end. He has given us a great example “in order that you may not grow weary and lose heart.” (v.3b). In fact, compared to Jesus, our sufferings pale. “In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood.” (v.4). In this struggle, just like Jesus, we are to give our all, even our very lives.
Many of the ancients have shown their faith in how they lived their lives. This is how we see that those who obey God can actually suffer heroically for the sake of their faith. So “we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses” (v.1a). If by God’s grace they can do it, even more so we, as we have seen Jesus himself, the Son of God, endure. So “let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us” (v.1b). We can do so since for us hope abounds.
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