Liturgy: Endurance—A Foundation of Our Faith
As Christians, we press on to finish the race, by keeping the faith, and enduring to claim the prize for which God has called us heavenward.
The King’s Liturgy defines our experience together as a Christian community. It outlines the rhythms we celebrate with the Church at large: Scripture readings, Sabbath habits, and celebration of Holy Days and historical events.
This week’s Scripture readings:
Isaiah 55:1-9
Psalm 63:1-8
Luke 13:1-9
1 Corinthians 10:1-13
This week’s reflection was contributed by Grace Gleason, Staff Accountant:
“Endurance is not just the ability to bear a hard thing, but to turn it into glory.” – William Barclay
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines “endurance” as: “the ability to withstand hardship or adversity; especially: the ability to sustain a prolonged stressful effort or activity (a marathon runner’s endurance).” The endurance of Christians in the face of persecution forms the foundation of most of the New Testament. Pictorial athletic imagery was used to call Christians to faithfulness as they prepared themselves for the race of life. Israel’s repeated failures to maintain faithfulness to God provided Paul with compelling models of the nature of tragedy. These examples supplied the raw materials for Paul and others to devise clear warnings to Christians about avoiding Israel’s mistakes and retreating from the way of faithfulness and authenticity of life ( 1 Corinthians 10:1-12).
Most evangelical theologians view endurance as a crucial aspect of a human’s response in faithfulness to the gracious, loving God who in giving Christ provides acceptance and salvation. Endurance, then, is an inherent part of genuine “believing” that is expected of every Christian. Inadequate believing withdraws in times of confusion, but true commitment endures by looking to Christ for the resources of life.
Most Christians take human weakness seriously; we realize the crucial necessity of divine support. Thus, prayer becomes a vital part of the Christian journey. It signifies a key element in adequately arming ourselves for endurance in the battle against the forces of evil. That battle is a lifelong one. As Christians, we press on to finish the race, by keeping the faith, and enduring to claim the prize for which God has called us heavenward.