Stamina: Rewards for Over-comers

As I mentioned before, I wrestled in high-school. That was the only sport I participated in…but I was pretty good at it. I won a lot of medals and trophies. Even though the “glory” of winning was relatively small, there was, none-the-less, some intrinsic satisfaction at winning. The prize was a motivating factor in working hard, enduring some very difficult practices, and not eating all the junk food my friends enjoyed. God promises rewards for those who over-come the persecution they receive because of following Christ. They are to motivate us to hang in the we are being persecuted.

In America, our “persecution” is relatively benign. Yes, we might lose a job, or a promotion, our friends might belittle our faith stances, or students might receive a lower grade for a paper that references their Christian beliefs. But throughout the world, it is very different. Christians in many countries truly suffer for the sake of Christ. Just go to persecution.com to see what is taking place in the lives of Christians worldwide. We need to stand with them…at least in prayer if nothing else.

As we close the series, I want to remind everyone what I said yesterday. Stamina is about faithfulness. Perseverance is about living out what it means to follow Christ…no matter what the cost.

From a sermon I read on the internet, I found the following: Tertullian of Carthage was the pastor of a church in north Africa about 200 years after Jesus was born. Some of his church members said, “Tertullian, we must burn incense to this pagan god even though we are Christians, but we won’t mean it.” And Tertullian said, “Why would you do that?” And the people said, “Because we have to work to buy food to eat!” And Tertullian said, “Why do you have to eat?” And they said, “Because we have to live.” Tertullian looked at them and said, “No!! You don’t have to work, or eat and you don’t have to live.

The only thing you have to do, is be faithful to God!!”

Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself. 2 Timothy 2:11-13

If we are faithful, God will be faithful to “…keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthian 1:8)

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