“Don’t get tired of doing what is good.” Galatians 6:9 NLT
“The secret to every breakthrough is follow through!”
My thoughts and comments today are about “purpose and persistence.”
The distance between the person who becomes discouraged and quits and the person who is determined to persist is exactly the same distance between failure and success. I wonder how many people grew weary and gave up just short of breaking through obstacles into amazing opportunities. It may seem an oversimplification, but a person only prevails when they persist. Persistence is nothing more complicated than an unwillingness to be discouraged. Sometimes a successful endeavor is just the result of hard work and persistence.
So, is the answer sheer force of will or stubborn determination? I think the real answer is something so much more important. I think as much as prevailing directly relates to persistence, the ability to persist directly relates to a keen sense of purpose. Purpose provides the motivation to keep believing and moving forward in faith and faithfulness.
Jesus is your example as “the author and perfector of our faith.” Let your heart hear these words, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Hebrews 12:2-3 NIV. You have to see the joy ahead to walk through the pain and problems presently. Jesus saw you in the hopelessness of your sins and foresaw your joy at salvation.
Jesus knew His purpose clearly and that strengthened Him to persist. “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” 1 John 3:8 NKJV. Jesus never wavered; He never doubted; He never quit. He went all the way to a cross – for you and me. Here is how Heaven saw Jesus, “As the time approached for Him to be taken up to Heaven, Jesus steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem.” Luke 9:51 NIV/NKJV.
The Bible says, “Those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So don’t get tired of doing what is good. Don’t’ get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time.” Galatians 6:8-9 NLT. Such blessing is neither for the uncertain of mind nor faint of heart. Jesus promised only that “He who endures to the end will be saved.” Matthew 10:22 NKJV. In my heart, I can still hear my Dad saying, “Allen, anything worth doing is worth doing well, and if you start something, finish it.” I read a simple comment, “The secret to every breakthrough is follow through!” May you find that to be true.
My prayer for you today is to foresee the accomplishment for strength in the moment.