Devotionals

The Purpose of Perseverance

by Dr. Brenda Robinson

May 18, 2012

Scripture Reading: Philippians 1:25

And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith.

Key Thought: “Persevere no matter what. Let your perseverance be known whether you are on the mountain rejoicing or whether you are all alone in a battle with no one to turn to but God.”

Key Points:

Perseverance is a responsibility.
The principle of perseverance produces stability, maturity, and confidence.

We can’t start this subject with a greater verse than verse 21 which says, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” When Paul made this statement his perseverance had already been challenged. He was living proof of surviving through persecution. He was confident in what he had to do. He had to persevere for the sake of others. Persevering through the hard times had produced stability, maturity, and confidence in Paul. We should apply this to our own lives, as well.

We can see from the warfare of perseverance that Paul spoke of in verses 21-24 that he had a struggle with his desire to be with the Lord and to continue in the flesh because of the needs of these people that he dearly loved and cared for. It says, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.”

In today’s key verse, we are taught, through Paul’s decision to continue with the teaching of the Gospel, that perseverance is a responsibility for every born-again believer. Our purpose for persevering when adversities come our way is for Christ to be glorified. It is so tempting to walk away from righteousness when we do our best and are constantly attacked.

It is easy to think we would be better off at home with Jesus than to have to continue living a Christian life. For this reason, we can relate to Paul when he says, “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Yet just as Paul was needed, so are we. People are starving for the gospel, for the love of God, and for instruction in righteousness. For their sakes, we must put on the heart of God and persevere.