Written by Diane Hunt: Diane Hunt serves on the board of America’s Keswick and is the Executive Director & CEO of Changed Choices, a Christian non-profit in North Carolina. She is also a biblical counselor and women’s event speaker. For more information about having Diane speak at your next event please contact her at dhunt@americaskeswick.org.
Endurance
Posted on November 18, 2022 by Elizabeth Welte in Victory Call
“Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” (James 1:12)
ENDURE: to undergo (as a hardship) especially without giving in; to remain firm under suffering or misfortune without yielding (i)
To endure temptation. How are you doing enduring temptation? Are you consistently standing firm when tempted? Are you resisting temptation? Are you fighting for obedience?
OR
Do you start out well but acquiesce after a time? Do you talk yourself out of obedience by convincing yourself it isn’t really sin? Perhaps I should say it another way… are you falling for the deception and lie of Satan being convinced it isn’t as bad as God says? Do you fail to endure the temptation?
OR
Are you so busy, so distracted by life and perhaps even serving that you don’t even notice temptation AS temptation?
OR
Have you long since given up the fight and no longer even begin to resist the temptation? Have you just accepted that “thing” as a normal part of your life? (ii)
Endurance requires intention, commitment, awareness, perseverance, and yes, suffering. Why do we fail to endure? There are a lot of reasons but one is because there is suffering involved. To endure temptation means we have to suffer the loss of what the temptation seems to be offering.
Enduring temptation requires a long-view perspective. Temptation screams NOW, endurance draws our attention to the long-term blessing. What awaits us when we endure the temptation? Blessing, approval (passed the test ) and the crown of life.
Will you fight to endure today?
(i) http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/endure
(ii) John MacArthur. The MacArthur Bible Commentary, 2005
Think About This: “The Word of God is like a lion, you don’t have to defend a lion. All you have to do is let the lion loose, and the lion will defend itself.” – Charles Spurgeon
The Daily Bible Reading: Ezekiel 17-19; Hebrews 13 You can download our 2022 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here.
This Week’s Verse to Memorize: “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
Want to get away & have dedicated time to read & learn God’s Word?
Consider a retreat at America’s Keswick retreat center.
