Pondering…

I’ve been ruminating on 2 Timothy 2:3 of late which reads, “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.”
This past year has revealed to me my lack of endurance when trying times come. Or at least, even though I “endured” the challenges, my attitude would not qualify as that of a “good soldier!”
I’m thankful, though, that whenever we come to Jesus, He is ready and willing to save. And so, to His loving arms, I come.
This excerpt, from Sketches from the Life of Paul pages 147-148, presents a picture of how I would like to deal with troublesome times in the future:

“Paul’s ministry in Ephesus had been a season of incessant labor, of many trials, and deep anguish. He taught the people in public and from house to house, instructing and warning them with many tears. He was continually opposed by the unbelieving Jews, who lost no opportunity to stir up the popular feeling against him. Again and again he was attacked by the mob, and subjected to insult and abuse. By every means which they could employ, the enemies of truth sought to destroy the effects of his labor for the salvation of men.

“And while thus battling against opposition, and with untiring zeal pushing forward the gospel work and guarding the interests of a church yet young in the faith, Paul was bearing upon his soul the burden of all the churches. Nor was he released even from the tax of physical labor. Here, as at Corinth, he worked with his own hands to supply his necessities. In weariness and painfulness from unceasing toil and constant danger, enfeebled by disease, and at times depressed in spirits, he steadfastly pursued his work.

“The news which he received, of apostasy in churches of his own planting, caused him deep anguish. He greatly feared that his efforts in their behalf would prove to have been in vain. Many a sleepless night was spent in prayer and earnest thought, as he learned of the new and varied methods employed to counteract his work. As he had opportunity, he wrote to the churches, giving reproof, counsel, admonition, and encouragement, as their state demanded. In his epistles the apostle does not dwell on his own trials, yet there are occasional glimpses of his labors and sufferings in the cause of Christ. Stripes and imprisonment, cold and hunger and thirst, perils by land and sea, in the city and in the wilderness, from his own countrymen, from the heathen, and from false brethren,—all these he endured for the truth’s sake. He was defamed, reviled, “made the offscouring of all things,” “perplexed, persecuted, troubled on every side,” “in jeopardy every hour,” “alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake.”

“Amid the constant storm of opposition, the clamor of enemies, and the desertion of friends, the intrepid apostle at times almost lost heart. But he looked back to Calvary, and with new ardor pressed on to spread the knowledge of the Crucified. He was but treading the blood-stained path which Christ had trodden before him. He sought no discharge from the warfare till he should lay off his armor at the feet of his Redeemer.

“Eighteen centuries have passed since the apostle rested from his labors; yet the history of his toils and sacrifices for Christ’s sake are among the most precious treasures of the church. That history was recorded by the Holy Spirit, that the followers of Christ in every age might thereby be incited to greater zeal and faithfulness in the cause of their Master.

“How does this hero of faith tower above the self-indulgent, ease-loving men who are today crowding the ranks of the ministry. When subjected to the ordinary difficulties and trials of life, many feel that their lot is hard. But what have they done or suffered for the cause of Christ? How does their record appear when compared with that of this great apostle? What burden of soul have they felt for the salvation of sinners? They know little of self-denial or sacrifice. They are indebted to the grace of Christ for all the excellences of character which they possess, for every blessing which they enjoy. All that they are, and all that they have, is the purchase of the blood of Christ. As the servants of Christ encounter opposition and persecution, they should not permit their faith to grow dim or their courage to fail. With Christ as a helper, they can resist every foe, and overcome every difficulty. The same obligation rests upon them which impelled the apostle to his unwearied labors. Only those who emulate his fidelity, will share with him the crown of life.”

Ahab was confronted with a situation before which he felt helpless. His automatic response was surrender. 1 Kings 20:1-4. He yielded to the enemy.

But then things were getting a little out of hand. It’s one thing to surrender, it’s quite another for the enemy to take over your life, humiliate you and make a public spectacle of you. So, although he couldn’t do anything about it, humanly speaking, Ahab put up some resistance. He wasn’t going to go down like that. 1 Kings 20:5-12.

Thus, in spite of the fact Ahab is a wicked king, and for His name’s sake, God intervenes to save Ahab, not just once, but twice! 1 Kings 20:13-30. Were it not for God’s intervention, Ahab had been toast. And God wanted to give Ahab a complete and thorough victory over his enemy.

But Ahab got distracted and started fraternizing with the enemy. He started making concessions and signing contracts as if it was by his own power that the enemy had been humbled. 1 Kings 20:32-34. My mama calls it playing with the devil’s tail. And yes, it did come back and bite him 3yrs down the road…

God wanted to give him a clean victory over this enemy. It would have been gone for good. But when the moment was right to slay the enemy, he chose instead to play with the enemy. Not only does the battle belong to the Lord, but so does the victory too! Quit fraternizing with the enemy and let God complete the victory.

I read this morning, in that classic, Education, about Joseph. Separated from his family at such a young age…

He couldn’t call, couldn’t write, couldn’t video-chat them. He missed his father, oh so much. He missed the time they would spend together. He missed hearing the timeless stories about the ladder with angels ascending and descending. He longed to hear Dad tell him, one more time, about how Grandpa Isaac, got together with Grandma Becca. And even though his brothers were mostly mean to him, he missed the security of having 10 older brothers.

I imagine how conflicted and confused he must have felt. It was his brothers that sold him into captivity, yet he yearned for their companionship. There’s just something about being with family! Sorrow just seems a little less bitter and joy a lot more jubilant. Night after night, throughout that trek to a strange land, and for months after he had settled into his slave job, he must have imagined, at each time of the day, what Dad, step-mom and brothers were up to.

Now a legal alien in a foreign country, with no prospect of ever being able to see his family again, Joseph worked hard, out of principle. His diligence was rewarded with promotion after promotion, but no fathomable promotion could land him back home with his family. Yet still he worked assiduously. Why did he work so hard? Even the highest ranking slave is still a slave. His elevation could not win him his brothers’ favor nor puff his father up with pride. No temporal gain would come from his diligent labor – he had to be working for the Lord and not for man!

As the years dragged on, he wondered if he’d even recognize Benjamin when next he saw him. What would he look like? He must be at least as tall as his elder brothers now! He wondered if Zebulun had married that girl he had his eye on. And how many kids Reuben now had. What did his Dad look like now? Although Dad was immortalized young in his memory, he would probably be needing a cane to walk with soon – the thought of it brought a shudder. Did his nieces and nephews even know about uncle Joseph who once was a part of their parents’ lives?

As I thought about Joseph, this morning, I realized that even when you got it bad, somebody got it worse! In spite of those nights when he would gaze at the stars with the realization that even if Dad were staring at the same stars, they were too far apart to communicate, Joseph lived his life for God. It was not to honor his earthly father that he worked so faithfully. Joseph was living for an Audience of One! So whether home or homesick, we must live for God.

I have a theory, that has been proven so many times I’m unashamed to publish it.
Here it is:
“With perseverance (and a little skill), any man can get a woman to fall in love with him.”
There is an addendum to that theory (lest I suffer the wrath of the independent woman):
“By the grace of God, any woman can resist the advances of any man, no matter how persevering the man or how contrary such resistance goes to her inclinations”

There’s something about persistent affection that draws a woman. He may be the least attractive man, physically, but as he loves you, somehow, your heart softens towards him.
I heard many stories like this, growing up – my own mother tells a similar tale. Not that my Dad isn’t cute, but that she had no intention of entering a courtship with him, let alone, marrying him. Yet here I am! Born to my Mom and Dad who are still married to one another.
I was always so afraid that I would end up marrying some guy I didn’t want to marry just because he pursued me well for long enough.

Romans 2:4 says, “Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance?” (NIV)
Maybe there’s a Biblical principle here…
It’s God’s “goodness” (KJV) that leads us to repentance. There’s something about His “longsuffering” that stirs a positive emotional response in us.
Could it be, perhaps, that women are created to mirror this effect that God has on His church?
It seems to me, that somehow, built into our makeup, is a love response to persevering kindness/goodness…etc.

ya?