Endure

Walking round my new garden, every day another flower appears that I didn’t plant, bringing me joy.

 There is definitely plenty of time to look because we are isolating at home for 10 days; Covid is an unwelcome visitor in the house! Just as I thought we were nearing the finish line!

 It has given me time to think about what helps us get across the finish line when trials and temptations keep on coming. So, here are a few thoughts from 2 Timothy 2 on endurance from Paul, who managed to endure abandonment from friends, hunger, stress and pain.

 Firstly, be strong IN GRACE (v1). Not - be strong on your own. I’ve tried that – it fails.

Be strong in the grace that is found in Jesus - an endless supply of mercy and tender kindness to you and to me.

 Secondly, see yourself as a soldier of Christ, fighting a spiritual battle (no real weapons needed). If you see yourself as a civilian, you won’t put on the spiritual armour. You might as well go to battle in pyjamas.

 Thirdly, eyes on the prize. For Trev, it was the marathon medal that got him across the finish line. For the farmer, the promised crop gets him up on a frosty winter dawn. Our prize is lives given to Christ for eternity. Paul endured not just for himself, but for the sake of the elect – for our sake. It’s worth reflecting on the prize when the going is tough. God promises us a crop of lives and sometimes like my new garden, we haven’t even done the planting. I was amazed last week; I asked God for chances to share him and found that I even had a lovely conversation about him in the middle of a phone complaint about my Sky Wifi!

 But above all, remember Jesus.

 When it’s tough, remember Jesus.

 Remember Jesus raised from the dead. The Word could not be contained in a grave and though doors may look locked, his words will not be chained.  

 Remember Jesus descended from David, says Paul. That means reminding ourselves that he was one of us - he understands and is with us in our struggles. Even when we are faithless, he is faithful (v13).

 It’s worth enduring because what is ahead is infinitely more wonderful than our struggles now. If we endure, we will reign with Christ (v12) – I can barely get my head around what that means but I do know that it will be an end of all suffering.

 So, be strong in grace, fight the spiritual battle, keep your eyes on the prize and remember Christ. Endure and you will reign with him.