you’re going to Endure You Gotta have Grit.

“Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.”  (James 5:11)

Endurance is a highly favored quality of mankind. It is most often associated with success despite difficulty or pain. We praise endurance because of the win that usually follows.

Endurance is necessary to our survival, and essential for our salvation. “And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved” (Matt 10:22).

“Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life” (Rev 3:10; cf Jas 1:12).

GRIT is another description of endurance. It is having a firmness of character; an unconquerable spirit. We gotta have GRIT, but how do we get us some?

The Hebrew writer in chapter 12, a chapter about endurance, gives us 4 keys on how to get GRIT.

[12] Therefore, lift up the hands which hang down and the feeble knees,

[13] and make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way, but let it rather be healed.

[14] Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord,

[15] looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness spring up to trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

Key #1 is GET UP AND GO.

“Therefore, strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees” (Heb 12:12). This is a command for us to get busy working on strength building.

When Elijah was facing persecution, God told him to GO. “And there he went into a cave, and spent the night in that place; and behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” So he said, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life” (1Kings 19:9). “Go, return on your way to the Wilderness of Damascus; and when you arrive, anoint Hazael as king over Syria” (19:15).

Key #1 is GET UP AND GO.

Key #2 is to READ the Bible with a focus on the New Testament.

“…and make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way, but let it rather be healed” (Heb 12:13). The straight path for our feet is found through the illumination of the word of God, consider Psalm 119:105… “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”

Key #2 is READ the Bible with a focus on the New Testament.

Key #3 is to be INTERESTED in and pursue peace with people.

“Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord,” (Heb 12:14). We can endure longer when we stop making enemies.

“If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men” (Rom 12:18). “I exhort therefore, first of all, that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, [2] for kings and for all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty” (1Tim 2:1-2).

Key #3 is to be INTERESTED in and pursue peace with people.

Key #4 is to look and TEST everything people are teaching.

“…looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness spring up to trouble you, and thereby many be defiled” (Heb 12:15). Looking diligently is about searching out the truth, proving it, and applying it to our lives.

Paul wrote; “Test all things; hold fast to that which is good” (1Thess 5:21). We must be on guard against error and false teachers. “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you…” (2Pet 2:1a). We’ll gain more endurance as we clear away errors and false teachers.

Key #4 is to look and TEST everything people are teaching.

Summary:

Key #1 is GET UP AND GO. Strengthen the hanging hands.

Key #2 is to READ the Bible to shine a light on your path.

Key #3 is to be INTERESTED in and pursue peace with people.

Key #4 is to look diligently and TEST everything people are teaching.

Agape,

Spencer