{"id":6026,"date":"2021-02-09T13:29:26","date_gmt":"2021-02-09T13:29:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-sites.ccci.org\/agapeuk-old\/?p=6026"},"modified":"2024-08-14T14:52:34","modified_gmt":"2024-08-14T14:52:34","slug":"perseverance-when-weakness-is-strength","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp-sites.ccci.org\/agapeuk-old\/perseverance-when-weakness-is-strength\/","title":{"rendered":"Perseverance: when weakness is strength"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Home<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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By Tiffany Atkins<\/h6>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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‘Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.’<\/p>

Hebrews 12:1-3<\/p><\/blockquote>

How is life for you at the moment? Are you enduring, embracing, suffering or just resigned to the current reality? Are you persevering?<\/p>

In Hebrews 12:1 we are encouraged to \u2018run with perseverance the race marked out for us\u2019 but how do we do this when we\u2019re not sure where the finish line is? And what is perseverance? Is it just something within us or a goal in itself?<\/p>

What is perseverance?<\/h2>

‘We also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.’<\/p>

Romans 5: 3-4<\/p>

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.<\/p>

James 1:2-4<\/p>

These verses tell us that perseverance is born out of suffering and trials, not a way to cope with trials. It in turn results in fruit: character, hope and spiritual maturity. Perseverance is not a case of \u2018stiff upper lip\u2019 or pulling yourself up by your bootstraps. It is not about being strong in the face of adversity, but, by looking to Christ and following his example of humility, endurance, weakness and hope in the joy before us, we don\u2019t grow weary and lose heart.<\/p>

It is not about mustering up self-reliance or is that just me?<\/p><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Weakness<\/h2>

Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 12, from his own first-hand experience, that Christ\u2019s power is made perfect in our weakness. Suffering and trials reveal our weakness. This is a good thing. Weakness is a universal human condition, we can\u2019t pretend we don\u2019t have weakness. In our weakness Christ\u2019s strength can work through us, but we need to acknowledge that weakness. Goodbye to \u2018keep calm and carry on\u2019 and that rigid top lip! When we look to Jesus and have confidence in His strength, we grow perseverance.<\/p>

Consider those whom Jesus is drawn to in the gospels. In contrast to the hypocrisy and self-righteousness of the Pharisees, the faith of the Syrophonoecian woman is commended when she admits her unworthiness (Matthew 15, Mark 7). The centurion\u2019s humility and recognition of Christ\u2019s authority is commended as faith (Luke 7). The humility of the tax collector is exalted (Luke 18). The repentant heart of the prostitute, the neediness of the sickness-bound widow, the lame man, the blind man, the hungry, the sinners – these are the people Jesus meets at their point of need.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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The Beatitudes<\/h2>

In Matthew 5, Jesus shows us four types of healthy weakness and offers us four different strengths. You may know these better as The Beatitudes. In the great Bible narrative, Jesus is our hero who has experienced these weaknesses and demonstrated these strengths. If we fix our eyes on Him and what He exemplified, we are promised blessing. Here\u2019s a quick run-through:<\/p>

Weakness<\/p>