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Great works are performed, not by strength, but by perseverance. Samuel Johnson
For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.
Hebrews 10:36
As I sit once again in my living room, as I have done thousands of times before: candles lit, music playing, sipping tea, and Bible in hand, I am thinking about all the times I have sat in this very place pouring out my heart, worship and requests to God. This place is familiar to me, my own personal altar, meeting with my familiar, loving God.
Today, my prayers are for my various children, big demands on the lives of several of them. “Lord, please lead them in wisdom. Please give them strength.”
Then there is the matter of my surgery. “Lord give me the right doctor.” And so on.
Life is a long story for most of us. The sum of what we have accomplished when we go to see Jesus face to face is not measure by one deed, or one act of faith. It is measured by years of love growing, compassion stretching, perseverance under trials, faith in the darkness, practiced over and over. When we add up a life of faithfulness in serving God, accumulating maturity, grace, knowledge, wisdom, failure, forgiveness, compassion--it is thousands of moments of choosing to practice persevering, one moment at a time.
But it is only in making those small choices, when no one else can see, that we find ourselves progressing on the path of the righteous.
I never tire of the story of the Sistine Chapel in Rome, a great example of perseverence in a work of art is the ceiling painting of Michelangelo. He painted over 5000 square feet of ceiling, one stroke at a time. Hundreds of scenes from the Bible, meticulously painted. Set backs, mold problems, scaffolding problems, financial issues, criticism, and more. Over four years, it took him to complete this work. Yet, now, countless millions of people have admired his great work.
For him, it was grueling, sweating work that took a master artist perseverance of great magnitude to finish this distinguished work. You can read about it here: Michelangelo Sistine Chapel
And so it is with our lives. God has given us this opportunity, today, to invest our lives for His glory. But integrity of faith requires endurance, perseverance, and thousands of choices of obedience.
Am I one who keeps going, keeps seeking, keeps trusting, keeps moving ahead by faith? What does it require us to accomplish God's work? A steadfast heart, a focussed mind and work ethic.
Today, as you contemplate Him, and His work, may you decide to keep fervent, patient and strong in His call to work through you. May your life bring His kingdom work to bear on a world that is desperate for His touch, light, love, and redemption.
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