Click here to play the recording
Here is the message. I worked with the Bible passage from James 1:2-5 and sought to draw out our work of character in pressing on when especially when bad things happen. I am going to try once again to get the message to actually work in playing- if it doesn’t please note that I will place a blog entry up when the podcast playback function is working.October 14, 2008
October 7, 2008
Perseverance: never give up, never surrender?
What do you think about when you hear the word perseverance. I think about the struggle it sometimes is to make it through the day, to complete the tasks that need doing. I think that at times we must press on even when we don’t really want to. I think of delayed gratification and sometimes no gratification at all. I remember that God never promised me an easy road.
Maybe the whole Bible is a story of God’s perseverance (and yes, love), of God’s pressing on even when it appears giving up would be the more prudent course. God hangs in there with us and doesn’t give up. But another questions comes to mind: is there a time when hanging in there is no longer the best course? Maybe not for God but what about for us? Should I give up sometimes? Is there a time when I am merely hanging on because I am stubborn? How do I know when that is, if ever? Life is really messy and I want answers that are easier to find, not so elusive.
I am beginning to ask where this message is meant to take us as a community. Are there things we have too easily given up on and things we need to press on in completing? What is the Word for us this week? What word of challenge, of healing, of hope do we need from God?