5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance,
We started with faith. We learned it takes diligence to add to that faith, and we learned we needed to start with moral excellence. As a new Christian (or old) the first thing our faith produces (and continues to produce) is a change in how we talk, dress, respond to others, think, and live. As our lives begin to change we search the Scriptures for knowledge so we can continue to become more godly. Time passes. Sometimes we find this change is hard to keep in place, but we are diligent. And so we begin to develop self-control, sometimes only a bit at first but baby steps are good and lead us toward our goal of godliness. Time passes and we realize the next step is absolutely essential if we are to finish this race we have started. Perseverance.
"Keep on keeping on" is how I think of perseverance. It's a longer version of self-control. Self-control helps in the moment; perseverance must last a life-time. Our example for this week is Hagar. She created a bad situation for herself with her attitude. She then tried to run away from the situation, but God sent her back to face her mistress. She was to spend the next decade living under a harsh mistress. She would have to persevere.
Today's assignment:
1. Find a good definition for perseverance.
2. Read Genesis 16:1-16 and share any thoughts you have about Hagar.
1 comment:
Perseverance: Continuing to press toward a goal despite obstacles, stress, persecution, distraction or discouragement.
What stands out to me from Hagar's story is that she was drawn into the problem by someone else's bad decision. Sarai sinned by pushing Abram to sleep with Hagar. (It seems Sarai was trying to create her own work around for God's promise.) Abram also sinned. We don't know how willingly Hagar submitted to all this, but we do know she developed a prideful attitude as soon as she got pregnant.
It just reminds me that sin spreads very easily. It can start with one or two people and maybe cause a third person to feel justified in their own sins.
Perseverance in doing God's will is both active and defensive. I must be diligent to DO the good God wants from me, and I must be diligent to RESIST sinning even when others around me sin -- or when their sins have hurt me.
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