"endurance to do the will of God"

"Remember the days past when, after you had been enlightened,

you endured a great contest of suffering.
At times you were publicly exposed to abuse and affliction;
at other times you associated yourselves with those so treated.
You even joined in the sufferings of those in prison
and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property,
knowing that you had a better and lasting possession.
Therefore, do not throw away your confidence;
it will have great recompense.
You need endurance to do the will of God
and receive what he has promised.
For, after just a brief moment,
he who is to come shall come;
he shall not delay.
But my just one shall live by faith,
and if he draws back I take no pleasure in him.
We are not among those who draw back and perish,
but among those who have faith and will possess life".
Hebrews 10:32-39

Perseverance in Christ does not mean we will achieve, or even see a glimpse of, our goal on earth, nor even be praised for our endurance against the glimmer and promises of the gods of this world. If we want to see our progress we only have to look at our own scars made by the hands of those who say "I Love you", or listen to the whispers of the "friends" who mock our faith behind our back, and watch how quickly we are discarded and left naked and alone, in the name of self preservation . . . because, isn't that exactly how our Lord was treated . . .and too often, how we ourselves treat our Lord?

Yes, these are words much easier to type than they are to live, but I trust that if you all pray for me, and I you, while all the time looking towards the Son, we will find that endurance does not only lead to success, but is success in itself.
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