Belinda Kersey 9/22/09
God’s Word
“I press on I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:14
The Song
The Message interprets 1 Peter 4:12-13 this way: “Friends, when life gets really difficult, don't jump to the conclusion that God isn't on the job. Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process, with glory just around the corner.”
How exciting is that? If we don’t give up and we press on then glory is just around the corner! Whose glory? God’s glory! My friend, we must push on, we can’t give up, the victory is just over the hill! I can say with James in James 1:2-3 “Consider it pure joy whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.” We can say with confidence “When the valley is deep, when the spirit is weak, when the body is weary, when we stumble and fall...In Jesus name, we press on.”
Perseverance is only developed when we are pushing through a wall or struggling against difficulty. Do you remember your biology lessons regarding butterflies? If someone opens the butterfly’s cocoon for them so that it does not have to struggle to get out then it will quickly die after emerging. Their struggling to break out of the cocoon that binds them, strengthens their wings and allows them to emerge majestic and beautiful, glorious and ready to fly.
God is so good to give us examples like that in nature to show us the end result of perseverance. We have many other reminders around us; the runner never wins a race if they do not persevere. The mountain climber never reaches the peak without perseverance. Parents must persevere through the teen years to see their child become a mature adult. They can all say “dear Lord, with the prize, clear before our eyes, we find the strength, to press on”.
When you persevere through your struggle, you will emerge on the other side in glorious victory. I don’t know how long it will be before God heals my body but I do know that Jeff and I can say “when we’ve given our all, in Jesus name we press on!”
Your Response
If you physically can, raise your hands to heaven and declare that God’s glorious victory is just around the corner. Thank God that He has already intervened in your situation and that He is on the job in your behalf.
God’s Word
“I press on I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:14
The Song
Press On by Selah
My Thoughts
I’ve often wondered how the Israelites felt when they finally realized that their promised land, their destination was “just around the corner” all the time they were wandering in the desert. Instead of focusing on the goal and believing beyond all doubt that God’s promise was true, they chose to bicker, complain, and do their own thing. Many of them never got to see the glory just around the corner. All God asked of them was obedience and trust and to press on in His name. The Message interprets 1 Peter 4:12-13 this way: “Friends, when life gets really difficult, don't jump to the conclusion that God isn't on the job. Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process, with glory just around the corner.”
How exciting is that? If we don’t give up and we press on then glory is just around the corner! Whose glory? God’s glory! My friend, we must push on, we can’t give up, the victory is just over the hill! I can say with James in James 1:2-3 “Consider it pure joy whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.” We can say with confidence “When the valley is deep, when the spirit is weak, when the body is weary, when we stumble and fall...In Jesus name, we press on.”
Perseverance is only developed when we are pushing through a wall or struggling against difficulty. Do you remember your biology lessons regarding butterflies? If someone opens the butterfly’s cocoon for them so that it does not have to struggle to get out then it will quickly die after emerging. Their struggling to break out of the cocoon that binds them, strengthens their wings and allows them to emerge majestic and beautiful, glorious and ready to fly.
God is so good to give us examples like that in nature to show us the end result of perseverance. We have many other reminders around us; the runner never wins a race if they do not persevere. The mountain climber never reaches the peak without perseverance. Parents must persevere through the teen years to see their child become a mature adult. They can all say “dear Lord, with the prize, clear before our eyes, we find the strength, to press on”.
When you persevere through your struggle, you will emerge on the other side in glorious victory. I don’t know how long it will be before God heals my body but I do know that Jeff and I can say “when we’ve given our all, in Jesus name we press on!”
Your Response
If you physically can, raise your hands to heaven and declare that God’s glorious victory is just around the corner. Thank God that He has already intervened in your situation and that He is on the job in your behalf.
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