Do You Ever Want To Give Up?
Good Morning Friends,
Have you ever noticed that the Hound of Heaven will pursue us with persistence and will converge on us at that very moment when things seem darkest? Harriet Beecher Stowe said: “When you get into a tight place and everything goes against you, till it seems as though you could not hang on a minute longer, never give up then, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn.” Somedays we need that kind of encouragement and so today we are prompted to respond to a world that often lives in despair. We too with Christ in us need to be on the hunt for those lost. Today we give a reassurance to those who feel spent but keep on going. Do You Ever Want To Give Up?
Scripture: Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.” So he told them this parable: “Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
Luke 15:1-7 (NRSV)
So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day.
2 Corinthians 4:16 (NRSV)
They came to Jericho. As he and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stood still and said, “Call him here.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart; get up, he is calling you.” So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. Then Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said to him, “My teacher, let me see again.” Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has made you well.” Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way.
Mark 10:46-52 (NRSV)
So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest-time, if we do not give up.
Galatians 6:9 (NRSV)
Message: Last night Pitt beat Clemson in a football game by one point. I like Clemson but the illustration is of Pitt being an example of a team that just did not give up.
There were no excuses. There was no fear of failure or skepticism or lack of training. It came down to a kicker and it was never a case of let someone else do it or I missed the PAT so let’s not risk it. It was dive into the mess and give success a chance.
So too
Jesus wants us to never give up.
That is one reason that he spends so much time healing people. It is the reason that Jesus spends so much time seeking lost sheep. It is to give hope and more for those who are discouraged and thinking of giving up. The message is simple. God is bigger than the problem. And God wants to open our eyes to the truth of Jesus… God want us to gain spiritual sight so we can follow in kingdom service. And God will chase us down and find us in our darkest moment to change the tide of events. Here we learn that we cannot listen to the naysayers. We have to do our part with faith. Here we learn that God is big enough to solve big problems and will help us with ours.
We are never to give up.
Adversity brought out the best in Paul. When he was crushed and overwhelmed, he was under pressure but never gave up. His spirit remained. He had to deal with adverse circumstances but knew that God was with him in the challenge. He was never broken. He knew that the troubles of life do not last very long. The best is yet to come. So too, his call…our call as Christians demands that we never give up. The cause for which we work demands it. The companionship we share with Jesus and other believers demands it. Even the consoling promise of salvation demands it…..Never…Never… Never give up.
Know that God is looking for us in our despair and that Jesus will never ever give up.
Pray that God, as an act of divine grace, would chase down our fleeing souls at those dark moments of life. Pray that when we can no longer do the heavy lifting that we give praise and thanks and rejoice in a way to helps the success of others on their journey. Pray we live our faith. Pray we stand firm in our faith. Pray we spread our faith. Pray that when we face adversity it brings out the best in us. Pray we never retire from praying. Pray we realize that there is no turning back. Pray we become victors with Christ. Pray we wise up to every opportunity. Pray that Christ be in us so that we too might join in the hunt for lost sheep.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 