EmmDev 2023-09-29 [Faithful Perseverance] Finish Well!

Finish Well!

[Apologies for the missed EmmDev yesterday...]

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day---and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. (2Timothy4:7-8)

We think this is the last letter Paul wrote before he was beheaded for his faith.

It's a beautiful passionate letter in which Paul urges his protege Timothy to be faithful in love for God and service for the church.

Paul has persevered much. We read of his exploits in 2Corinthians11: "Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn? If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness."

I think we can rightly conclude that Paul faithfully persevered!
Paul summarises faithful perseverance in ways:
- I fought the fight - Endured opposition and stayed strong
- I finished the race - I kept going (it wasn't about winning but finishing)
- I kept the faith - I kept my eyes on Jesus - the Author and Perfecter of my faith (Heb12:1-3)

And He is excited - not so much about the crown he will receive - but about meeting Jesus who he has longed for.

It's my prayer that we will be like Paul - enduring opposition, keeping going, keeping the faith and that all of this will be motivated by the same longing we see in Paul: Longing to meet Jesus and hear Him say: "Well done, good and faithful servant!"
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On Monday we will start with our Denomination's "Month of Mission". This year the theme is "The Five Keys of Discipleship." Our devotions will be written by a variety of ministers from South Africa, Zimbabwe and Zambia. I hope you enjoy it!

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EmmDev 2023-09-27 [Faithful Perseverance] Perspective

Perspective

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (2Corinthians4:16-18)

In our modern times Paul may well have been sent for sensitivity training!

Imagine pouring your heart out to a counsellor about the heartaches you are going through only to have them say, "Oh... don't worry, these light and momentary troubles are achieving an eternal glory that far outweighs them all..."

"Light and momentary troubles?" [Sputter, gasp, gape in shock]
Facing cancer, a job loss, a broken relationship or something similar is anything but light and momentary. It's tough, challenging, heart-breaking, soul-draining and exhausting.

But before we are too quick to drag Paul off to those sensitivity and empathy classes, let's pay more careful attention to what he is actually saying.

Firstly, he starts with a "therefore". (What is it "there for"?) It's referring to the previous verses where Paul reminds us that we have treasure (The presence, love and power of God) in our clay pot lives to show that the power is from God and not from us and that we are: "We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed." (2Cor4:8-9) And so Paul is operating from the premise that the love, power, grace and presence of God lives in us.

Secondly, he has adequately acknowledged the trouble: hard-pressed, perplexed, persecuted, struck down and he acknowledges that this can cause us to lose heart. So Paul is not trivialising the pain or the danger of what pain can do to us.

In the third place, he acknowledges our frailty: we get sick, we grow old and we all will die. BUT he also acknowledges that God is at work in us day by day. John says the same thing in his first letter: "Greater is He who is within you than he who is in the world."

So what is Paul actually saying once we get past his seeming insensitivity?

1. Our troubles are temporary, God's grace is eternal.
2. Our troubles are light - the only other time this Greek word is used in the NT is when Jesus says: "My yoke easy and my burden is light." With His help we will get through.
3. God will work in our circumstances for our good.

When we take it all in, Paul, although coming across a bit blunt, is giving us some all-important truth and perspective:

• God is at work in us. We are not alone. Nothing is bigger than the love and grace of God.
• Trouble does come. It WILL pass. It is only too heavy if we are not relying on Him whose burden is light.
• If we don't lift our eyes beyond our circumstances we will drown in them.
  Paul reminds us to recognise that God is with us in the long haul and He will bring us HOME.

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EmmDev 2023-09-26 [Faithful Perseverance] Strong, Firm and Steadfast

Strong, Firm and Steadfast

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. (1Peter5:10)

This verse has become very significant to me...
Let's go through it phrase by phrase...

• The God of all grace: The God who sent His one and only Son when I definitely did not deserve it, the God whose mercies are new every morning.
• Calls me (yes me) to Eternal Glory in Christ. This Eternal Glory is not only Eternal Life but relationship with God the Father and with Jesus Christ. (John 17:3 "Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.")
• after you have suffered for a little while: Suffering will not last forever. Sometimes it feels that way, but suffering won't last. Death is a defeated bully, frailty is the playground tormentor that will meet its match and suffering is the pretentious antagoniser that will be unmasked. Hope is stronger than despair, love is stronger than hate, Christ is stronger than the grave. God has set the expiry date for all our bullies!
• This God, the God of Grace, the God who calls us to Eternal Relationship with Him and the God who has set the expiry dates on death, mourning, crying and pain (See Rev21:4) will be with us here and now making us strong, firm and steadfast.

Strong, Firm and Steadfast...
Spend the rest of the day reflecting on the meaning of these three gifts...

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EmmDev 2023-09-22 [Faithful Perseverance] NOTHING!

NOTHING!

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans8:35-39)

When trouble comes we often ask ourselves "What does this trouble say about my belief in a loving God?" But this is the wrong question. It gives trouble too much authority. There's a better question: "What does my belief in a loving God say about my trouble?"

And Paul is ready with an answer:

1. The Love of God is tougher than any trouble that may come our way. Look at the escalation: trouble - persecution - famine - nakedness - danger - sword. Even when our lives are made cheap and it seems like no-one else seems to care and we are like sheep in the abattoir, God continues to love us and His love remains real for us.

   The Christians Paul was writing to in Rome experienced this. They were taken to the Colosseum to face the lions and gladiators, they would be covered in tar and set on fire in Nero's gardens, they would hide out in the catacombs fearing persecution. Yet the church grew and the gospel spread.
   

2. With God's love undergirding us we can overcome our troubles and circumstances. We can "keep the faith", we can remain Christ-like, we can forgive, we can get up and keep going, we can point the way for others.
3. The problem is that we think our circumstances are an indicator of God's love for us, but this is not the case. If things are going well for someone else but badly for me, it does not mean that God loves them more than me.

   This world is broken and we are the ones who broke it. In this broken world trouble is a reality. God's love is bigger than my trouble and with His help and comforted by His love I will get through.

Remember this:
At the very centre of all the heartache and trouble in the world there is a cross.
On that cross Jesus gave Himself, embracing all our pain so that we will NEVER be alone.
(Now read Paul's awesome promise again...)

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EmmDev 2023-09-21 [Faithful Perseverance] Trouble comes...

Trouble comes...

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (James1:2-4)

James is convinced about one thing: Trouble will come.
He doesn't say "Consider it pure joy IF you face trials..."
He says "Consider it pure joy WHEN you face trials..."

That's the thing about a broken world: - It's broken.
And in a broken world, broken things happen.
And so trouble comes and trouble is a trial.
Trouble tests our faith, it stretches our endurance and challenges our faithfulness.

But James doesn't leave the news at this depressing point...
Although trials and trouble can and should be expected, God is at work.
If we face our trials, He will help us to become stronger.

Specifically, trials faced and endured develop perseverance.
And the ability to persevere is the sign of someone who is mature and complete in their faith.

Over the years I have been fascinated at some of the "super spiritual" people I have met who absolutely fall apart when a bit of trouble comes their way while I observe some of the "quiet saints" who don't flash their spirituality around but remain calm, gracious, loving and faithful even when they are going through serious trouble.

While God is not the author of trouble and heartache, He is at work in our pain and struggle if we let Him.

And so James invites us to rejoice when trouble comes.
We're not being masochistic, we're not rejoicing in the suffering, we're rejoicing in the fact that God can and will hold us in our suffering and we'll learn to persevere, becoming mature and complete.

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EmmDev 2023-09-20 [Faithful Perseverance] Marathon

Marathon

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, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (Hebrews12:1-3)

All of us know how to run.
But we don't know how to run far.
Long distance running isn't easy.
We have to consider cramps, shinsplints, blisters, lactic acid, fitness, endurance and a huge number of additional factors. If we've never run long distances before, we will need guidance or coaching on how to get fit, how to get the right nutrition, pacing, etc.

The writer of the Hebrews gives us some coaching for Faithful Perseverance:

1. Grounding: We're surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. Think of all the Old Testament heroes and the Christians over the last 20 centuries. This race has a long tradition and a solid track record. They're in the heavenly grandstands, they're cheering because they know we can get to the end of our race just like they got to the end of theirs: with faith!
2. Losing distractions: Any long distance runner knows that you can't carry baggage with you and that you need a clear path. We need to lose the weight of past hurts and avoid the thorns and vines of temptation and sin that will snag us and hold us back.
3. Run with perseverance: There are no short-cuts to fitness. One starts small with a small distance and then you ramp it up daily and weekly. It's progressive overload. Going further, harder and faster each time. This is not easy and it takes courage.
4. Follow the route: It doesn't matter how far or fast we run if it's on the wrong road! There will be tempting detours and times that we will need to choose carefully to stay on the right route. The Holy Spirit will show us the way, but we must listen...
5. Focus: It can get lonely, exhausting and scary on this race. We will need motivation. Looking at Jesus and all He suffered and did for us will help.

So that's our marathon and how to run it!

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EmmDev 2023-09-19 [Faithful Perseverance] Incremental

Incremental

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2Peter1:3-8)

On the 8th of August I wrote a devotion about this passage talking about "Carts and Horses" emphasising that we can't do anything by ourselves. We need God's power working in us. (Go HERE to read that eDev...)

However, when God's power is at work in us, then we begin incremental growth. Interestingly, perseverance is in the list, but it also takes perseverance to grow from faith to goodness. It takes diligence to grow from goodness to knowledge and it takes courage to move to self-control. Then we need to develop our long-distance muscles for perseverance so that we can tackle the challenging road to godliness. It takes special self-awareness, grace and dedication to grow in brotherly kindness and then sheer determination when it comes to showing love to difficult people.

And I have learned that each time I think I've completed this cycle, I find myself on a new level and God has another growth staircase of faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love for me to climb.

This is not so that I can be saved, but because I am saved, and the higher I climb, the more of God's love and goodness I can see.

Faithful Perseverance is Incremental. It's lots of little steps in a number of areas so that I can be more like Jesus!

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EmmDev 2023-09-15 [Faithful Perseverance] Not for Wimps

Not for Wimps

When Barnabas went to the new Greek speaking congregation in Antioch he urged them to "remain true to the Lord with all their hearts."
If I were a new convert, I would be nervous if I received an admonition like "Stay true with all your heart...."

Faith is not for wimps.

Paul has given the Corinthians quite a work-over. He's had to confront them about immorality, divisions, abuse of the Lord's Supper and a number of other things. One would expect a gentle and encouraging ending, something like: "Hang in there, I know it's been a bit rough, but we'll get there..."

Not Paul! Here's what he says:

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love. (1Corinthians16:13-14)

Wow - there's a wake up call!
Be on your guard - there's danger out there!
Stand firm in the faith - there's temptations that will make you wobble!
Be Courageous - there's scary stuff out there
Be Strong - there's opposition out there that will defeat the weak.
Do everything in love - because sometimes people will drive you to want to do otherwise

Unfortunately "Mainstream" Christianity has become soft. Whether it's the prosperity gospel or the privilege of a modern consumer society, but we are not resilient anymore. We want the kind of Christianity offered by some of the preachers we see on TV: "Come to Jesus and all your problems are over. You'll be healthy and wealthy (but maybe not wise). You'll always get a parking place and always have money."

Christians who buy into this complain about uncomfortable seats in church and sermons that go five minutes overtime. They are easily discouraged and become disgruntled when things don't go their way. They'll easily skip church saying: "I don't like those new/old songs..." or "the preacher just isn't on my wavelength..." or "I just don't get on with so and so..."

The reality is that we are called to courageous Christianity. Christians don't always have perfect health. Their cars don't always start. In fact, they may be targeted and ridiculed by fellow students or business associates. They may become targets of bullies and thugs. They may become victims of crime and face temptations. They may face health and financial setbacks. They are marked as "enemy" by Satan and his kingdom of darkness. There is a battle and we're in it!

Being the church can be hard, we have to face our brokenness and courageously love one another standing firm against that which would derail us from our mission and purpose.

A modern day preacher might have "cut his losses" with the church in Corinth, but not Paul. He perseveres and calls them to do the same.

Christianity is not for Wimps!

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EmmDev 2023-09-14 [Faithful Perseverance] It's not just passive

It's not just passive

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (Galatians6:9)

Perseverance isn't just passive.

Sometimes the Church and Christians fall into the trap of bemoaning the changing world around us and we adopt a run-from-the-world holy-huddle mentality.

Paul reminds the Galatians that we need to do more than hide from the world.
We need to be doing good!

Amazingly, when we start making a difference, even if it's as simple as just smiling at people more, we experience joy, purpose, fulfillment and empowerment. There is significant meaning to be found in service to God.

And Paul assures us that there will be a harvest when we do good.

Are you trying to persevere passively?
Are you gritting your teeth through tough times hoping it will pass soon?
Stop being passive - be active in doing good!

Currently the city we are in is experiencing load-shedding, water-shortages, service delivery trouble and a host of other difficulties. People are irritated and frustrated.
But what would it look like if we deliberately did a few things that did good?
- Change the subject when a conversation you are in gets too negative.
- Offer to help a neighbour with water or a gas bottle
- Lend a hand wherever you can

This can sound very simplistic, but it works!
When we do good, persevering becomes easier.

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EmmDev 2023-09-13 [Faithful Perseverance] Really Tough Times

Really Tough Times

Many people read John's book of Revelation incorrectly.
They think the book is about the End Time (without an "s") in the sense of a very specific period in history just before the Second Coming of Jesus and the Final Judgement. For them, this time is somewhere in the future and numerous attempts have been made to predict when this time will be. (You may remember how some incorrectly guessed 2000 or 2012.)

However, when Jesus spoke about the End Times (note the "s"), He described it like a woman in labour. Labour is a cycle of contractions and rest, contraction and rest, contraction and rest... In this view, the End Times (labour) began when Jesus ascended into heaven and will end when He returns. During this period we will see times of contraction and times of rest for the Church.

The problem with the first point of view is that the book of Revelation is technically irrelevant for now and for the John's first readers, because it will only be applicable in that very specific period of history! Imagine John saying: "Hey everyone, here's a book I wrote, but it's only going to be relevant in some 2000+ years!"

The incredible beauty of the second point of view is that Revelation is true and appropriate anytime the Church anywhere experiences a contraction. Revelation was a comfort to the Early Church where Christians where put in front of lions in Rome and run through with the sword in Asia Minor. It was also a comfort to the Protestants being persecuted in Europe in the 1600s and it was a comfort to the true church in Nazi Germany, the church behind the Iron Curtain and now the church in Muslim totalitarian states in Africa today.

Our reading comes from one of the seven "Letters to the Churches" in Revelation 2 & 3. These were actual churches in Asia Minor (modern day Turkey) and they were experiencing real persecution. Jesus comforts them and He still comforts those who face persecution today.

This lovely passage makes a few important points:

1. We should not be intimidated by hardship, it is part of the labour
2. The church's enemy is the devil and his goal is to break the church
3. Persecution and suffering will be limited (here symbolised by "ten days".) God is still in control
4. We need to be faithful - not successful - but faithful
5. Death should never bully us - God gives us eternal life
6. And Eternal Life doesn't start when we die, Eternal Life is knowing Christ, and this is our Victor's Crown!

Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor's crown. (Revelation2:10)

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