6 August: Tuesday Refocus

“In this life, victory often looks like endurance.” - Mark Dever

It can be easy to see endurance as something we gut out—clenched teeth, powering through. And perhaps there is an element of endurance that looks like that. But I think that Christian endurance looks more like Jesus, who, “…for the joy set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2

Endurance looks more like acknowledging the honest reality of the broken world but setting our hope on future glory. More like dying to ourselves in subtle and small ways that go unseen by everyone but the Father than single moments of self-denial. More like carrying a cross than seeking comfort. More like setting our minds on things eternal. More like Jesus.

Father, may endurance increase in your people for your glory and our good, in Christ’s name, and the Spirit’s power. Amen.

Amen,

AB

Tuesday Refocus: July 18

“The more you try to avoid suffering, the more you suffer, because smaller and more insignificant things begin to torture you, in proportion to your fear of being hurt. The one who does most to avoid suffering is, in the end, the one who suffers most.” - Thomas Merton

It was for the joy set before Jesus, that He endured the cross (Hebrews 12:2). The Author, Finisher, and Perfecter of our faith suffered, why would we believe that our lives would - or should - look any different?

Suffering feels unnatural because it was never intended to be a part of our world and our lives - and one-day suffering will cease to exist. But if we suffer with Christ as children and heirs, we will also be glorified with Christ (Romans 8:17)! Suffering feels unnatural in a world and culture of instant gratification. Suffering is counterintuitive because it says that there can be future joy, and eternal pleasures only in part today, but forever more on that day.

Father, may we experience Your comfort in our suffering? May we glimpse You joy now? Fill us with endurance, oh, Lord. In Your eternal and enduring name, amen.

Amen,

AB

June 30: Tuesday Refocus

‘We cannot go further until we go deeper.’ – E. Stanley Jones

The longer we journey through this pandemic, the more parallels to the spiritual life I find.  I thought it would be different by now, but while cases increase and States open, I have to pace myself for endurance, and long-term faithfulness.

I cannot reach the end of pandemic life by sheer force of will and adrenaline.

Nor can I be found faithful to the end of my spiritual life living off of the spiritual life of another.

I will only endure as…

…my life is rooted, and planted by streams of water so I do not wither (Ps 1:3).  

…my heart daily seeks the face of God (Ps 27:8). 

…I feast on the abundance of His house and drink from the rivers of His delights (Ps 36:8)

…I set the Lord always before me (Ps 16:8).

…I fix my eyes on Jesus and run the race before me with endurance (Heb 12:1-2)

‘So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.’ 2 Cor 4:16-18

Lord, grow our faithful endurance as You go before us, walk beside us and come after us with Your grace and mercy.  In the enduring name of Christ, amen.

Enduring together,

AB