Devotional Journal: Reflection on James 5:7-11, Job 42:12, Hebrews 12:2, Revelation 21:1-5
Why
“Why hold on?” This faint thought crossed my mind. Why hold on to hope, life, and the promise of a better future? The answer is quite simple yet hard to grasp: “There is an intended end.” This current state of living is always in motion. We are moving ever towards the intended end that the LORD have for each of us. The end will birth a new beginning. For those sealed by His Spirit and have Jesus Christ as LORD of their life will receive eternal life and glory. Rejecting Him will end with the birth of eternal suffering. Two intended ends of the LORD.
Build up and destroy
Pressures of life are not accidental it is quite the opposite. Endure the flame that will refine you and destroy impurities. Endure the storm that reinforce your foundation and blow away weak structures that do not belong. The duality of suffering is ever present. How we respond to it will determine if we persevere through it.
Push on
Feed on what will be, let go of what is. Endure through the trials and establish yourself on the truth of His word. You and I are never alone in fact the love of God will never leave. We may never fully understand why such sufferings happen to us. We can always hold on to His promises and the examples of those who endured to obtain the intended end by the LORD.
7 Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. 8 You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. 9 Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. 10 As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.-James 5:7-11 (ESV)
12 And the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning...-Job 42:12 (ESV)
2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.-Hebrews 12:2 (ESV)
21 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
5 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.”-Revelation 21:1-5 (ESV)
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. 2016. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
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