We Will Reap If We Faint Not (Gal. 6:9,10)
"Let us not grow weary in well doing for in due season we will reap if we faint not. As we therefore, have opportunity, let us do good to all men. Especially to those who are of the household of faith." (Gal. 6:9,10)
Illustration: Postage stamps are getting more expensive, but at least they have one attribute that most of us could emulate: they stick to one thing until they get there.
Quotes:"Once I’m done with kindergarten, I’m going to find me a wife."
(Tommy, 5) That kid needs to get more of an understanding of long haul.
Quote: As a teacher, I’ve overheard a lot of interesting things from my students. For instance, when Andrew, age 5 and very much into computers, was saying the Lord’s Prayer, he did well till near the end when he said, "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from e-mail."
Gusty C.—Lampman, Saskatchewan
Ill Epigrams on Perseverance
- There aren’t any hard-and-fast rules for getting ahead in the world -- just hard ones.
- You don’t have to lie awake nights to succeed. Just stay awake days.
- There is no poverty that can overtake diligence. -Japanese proverb
- By perseverance the snail reached the Ark. -Spurgeon
- Triumph is just "umph" added to try.
Source Unknown.
Too many seem to lack resilience, endurance and staying power in our world geared toward convenience. Surely, it was not convenient for Jesus to go all the way to Calvary for our sake, but the writer of Hebrews tells us, "For the joy set before Him, He endured the crossing, despising the shame, and is now set down on the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such sufferings of sinners against yourself lest you be weary and faint in your minds. For you have not resisted to the point of shedding blood in your battle against sin." (Heb. 12:3,4)
Illustration: The Greeks had a race in their Olympic games that was unique. The winner was not the runner who finished first. It was the runner who finished with his torch still lit. I want to run all the way with the flame of my torch still lit for Him.
J. Stowell, Fan The Flame, Moody, 1986, p. 32.
Illustration: There is nothing so fatal to character as half-finished tasks.
David Lloyd George.
Here are some helpful scriptural truths on perseverance, resilience and steadfastness of hope in the truth that we will reap if we faint not:
1. RENEW - Renew your energy with praise of God’s love, faith and hope in you throughout the day. Praise Him for His perseverance, power and persistence in all aspects of His will. He will not fail you or forsake you until all of the service of the house of God is finished. Be strong and courageous and act.(Josh 1:9) We cannot endure unless we go back to draw upon the refreshing living water of God’s attributes. He is the perfecter of our faith. He is the one who is at work in us both to will and do of His good pleasure.
Illustration: All the way my Savior leads me
What have I to ask beside?
Can I doubt His tender mercy,
Who through life has been my Guide?
Heav’nly peace, divinest comfort,
Here by faith in Him to dwell!
For I know, whate’er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well;
For I know, whate’er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well.
All the way my Savior leads me
Cheers each winding path I tread,
Gives me grace for every trial,
Feeds me with the living Bread.
Though my weary steps may falter
And my soul athirst may be,
Gushing from the Rock before me,
Lo! A spring of joy I see;
Gushing from the Rock before me,
Lo! A spring of joy I see.
2. RESTORE - He restores my soul, David wrote in Psa 23:1,2. Thank God that He will never leave you wanting for the endurance needed to finish God’s tasks. Whatever you are lacking He will replenish your spiritual gas tank with the fuel needed to cross the finish line. Some allow themselves to get weary in well doing because they dail to take time to thank God for His restoration that He works through His encouragement in Christ, consolation of love, fellowship of the Spirit, His affection and compassion. (Phil. 2:1,2)
3. REMEMBER - Remember that we always need the doctor to heal our hurts and work His miracles of emotional, mental and spiritual revitalization. We are not adequate in ourselves, but our adequacy comes from God. Jesus said, "It is not those who are healthy that need a physician but those who are sick." (Matt 9:13)
One of the reasons that God allows us to get sick, tired and fatigue is so we will always depend on the great physician to heal us and get us ready for the next battle. Without continual meetings with the physician we may suffer needless pain, problems and maladies. He heals the broken-hearted and sets the captives free. (Isa 61)
4. REWARD - Consider that there is nothing that you are doing for the Lord that will not get rewarded. Paul wrote, "Be steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing your labor is not in vain in the Lord." (I Cor. 15:58) In Gal 6:9,10 Paul goes even farther, He says, You will reap, if you faint not." Let us be like Jesus with one eye on the joy of the reward that is set before us. This will keep us investing in things above instead of in things on the earth. Let us not spend much time pursuing corruptible crowns and concentrate more on the incorruptible crowns that will soon be ours for eternity.
5. READJUST - Any General knows that war requires constant improvisation, adjustments and rearrangements in order to defeat the enemy. Let us be humble enough to admit that we constantly need to adjust in order to remain relevant, effective and adaptive to be the best possible servants for Jesus Christ. Occasionally we need to make corrections in order to endure the long marathon of the Christian life. Let us be willing to make the necessary adjustments in our lifestyle in order that we can do what it takes to not get weary in well doing. Perhaps, this will involve getting to bed earlier so that you can spend more time alone with God in personal devotions in the morning before going to work.
6. REMOVE - Perhaps there are certain habits, sins, or people that are dragging you down. It may be necessary to remove these weights that inhibit us from running the race God has called us to complete. The writer of Hebrews wrote, "Laying aside every weight and the sin that so easily besets us and let us run with patience the race that is set before us." Good runners do whatever it takes to shed all the pounds possible so that their bodies are lean and trim so as to not hinder them from finishing at the front of the pack. Perhaps we need to remove certain things in our life that are just hindering us from doing 100% of His will. Jesus said, "If any one would come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily and follow me." (Luke 9:23) Let us remove whatever encumbrances we may have so that we can follow Jesus all the way to the heights.
7. RESILIENT - Praise God that the Holy Spirit gives you the ability to bounce back from defeats, discouragements or difficulties. Paul wrote, "As servants of God we commend ourselves in every way, in great endurance, in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger... in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love. (2 Cor. 6:4-6) Ask the Lord to give you a greater resilient attitude when you encounter the temptations to grow weary and faint in well doing.
8. RECONSIDER - The word of God and the Holy Spirit help us reconsider the resources that are available to us when we are tempt to quit. God told Isaiah at a time when Israel was close to throwing in the towel of surrender. "They who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will run and not grow weary and they will walk and not faint." (Isa 40:31) Ask the Lord to help you reconsider His promises as you wait, trust and hope in Him through more reliant times of prayer, fellowship and study of the scriptures. These resources will reinvigorate you when others grow weary in well doing.
9. REST - One of the reasons that Elijah despaired of life and asked the Lord to take his life is that he needed a rest. Everyone has to gauge when they need a rest. Take time to recharge your batteries. The older I get the more time I need to recuperate or I tend to get short with people I love. David wrote, "Wait and the Lord and be of good courage. Wait I say on the Lord." (Psa 27:14)
Quote: Rest in Him, nest in Him, fully be blessed in Him, following my Father’s will. (Amy Grant)
10. REFINEMENT - Allow the Lord to develop a greater level of spiritual, emotional, mental and moral maturity in you through trials. James wrote, "Let patience have its perfect work that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." ((James 1:2-5) God is working in you greater resilience, endurance and capacity to endure much greater difficulties if you will let Him. Paul wrote, "Let us rejoice and exult in our hope of experiencing and enjoying the glory of God. Let us be full of joy now. Let us exult and rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and unswerving endurance. And endurance (fortitude) develops maturity of character (approved faith and integrity) And character produces the habit of joyful and confident hoep of eternal salvation. Such hope never disappoints or deludes or shames us, for God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." (Rom. 5:3-5)
Ask the Lord to help you gain a greater appreciation, assurance and hopeful attitude that His Spirit will fill your heart with an eternal sense of His enduring love that refuels you when you are in mid-flight.
Conclusion: Tenacity is a pretty fair substitute for bravery, and the best form of tenacity I know is expressed in a Danish fur trapper’s principle: "The next mile is the only one a person really has to make."
Eric Sevareid, Bits and Pieces, September 19, 1991, p. 19.
Song: Take my life, and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days; let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Take my hands, and let them move at the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet, and let them be swift and beautiful for Thee.
Take my voice, and let me sing always, only, for my King.
Take my lips, and let them be filled with messages from Thee.
Take my silver and my gold; not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect, and use every power as Thou shalt choose.
Take my will, and make it Thine; it shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is Thine own; it shall be Thy royal throne.
Take my love, my Lord, I pour at Thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself, and I will be ever, only, all for Thee.
