Have you ever fought through something till the end even though things were not going your way?
ENDURANCE PAYS OFF!
Have you ever been treated unfairly but still followed through to the end?
When it was over and you knew you gave your best you felt great didn't you?
ENDURANCE PAYS OFF!
Why did you feel like you accomplished something great? Because you knew no matter how unfairly you were treated you didn't give up!
"Don't Give Up, Don't Ever Ever Give Up"
Jimmy Valvino Head Coach NC State Basketball - Fought Cancer
I'm sure all of us have had situations where for whatever reason we wanted to throw in the towell and say, "no mas!"
The enemy will always try to trick us into quitting and giving up. Why? Because he knows we will lose our confidence.
When we stick it through to the end and Finish Strong we get Stronger for the next Challenge.
ENDURANCE PAYS OFF!
The enemy wants to take us out of the game by discouraging us so we quit. Here in Genesis we see how Endurance Pays Off in the end.
ENDURANCE PAYS OFF!
Joseph had some tough times leading up to this next verse.
Beat up and thrown into a Pit.
Sold as a Slave.
Falsely accused of attempted rape.
Thrown into prison... ect..
Joseph had to Endure!
"Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you." Gen 41:39-40
Joseph had Perseverance and Endurance and stayed the course. Joseph was Discerning and Wise because He was in the Playbook daily getting closer and closer to God.
Finishing is the key! In Fox's Book of Martyrs we see a different angle to Victory. These great people of faith were all killed for what they believe in.
ENDURANCE PAYS OFF!
In order to Finish Strong under such circumstances the Prize had to be big.
The Prize was their ability have Endurance in very difficult situations. Their Bravery set the stage for generations to come and their Love brought them through.
When we have Endurance and go all the way to the Finish Line we get Stronger and Faster.
ENDURANCE PAYS OFF!
"I firmly believe that any man's finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is the moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle - victorious."
Vince Lombardi
"Run in such a way that you may win. Don't you realize that everyone who runs in a race runs to win, but only one runner gets the prize?" 1 Corinthians 9:24
The Ultimate Victory in the Universe was when God was Murdered for our sins. He Finished Strong with Persistence and Endurance.
"...because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame..." Hebrews 12:2
The Award was the Joy of being with us for Eternity.
What is it that gives us that Drive to see it through? For Jesus it was His Love for us. For Joseph it was his Love for God and the Hope he may see his family again.
What about you and I?
What is the motivation for a dad to get up everyday and work 12 hours?
LOVE - for his family.
What is the motivation for a mom to work 24-7 providing for 8 children?
LOVE - for her family.
What is the Motivation to Stay in School and Work hard at your career?
LOVE - for your future family.
What is the Motivation to Endure through Conflicts in a marriage?
LOVE - for God which will lead to Love for our family.
What is the Motivation to Finish Strong in everything? For Jesus it was His Love for us and His Hope that we will be with Him in the ages to come.
LOVE IS THE GREATEST POWER IN THE UNIVERSE!
ENDURANCE PAYS OFF!
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6
You may have had a string of bad luck like Joseph did. Just remember when all else fails:
LOVE CONQUERS ALL! ENDURANCE PAYS OFF!
Just Go! Don't Give Up, Don't Ever Ever Give Up!
Rick
Jan 20 Readings - GENESIS 41:17-42:17 | MATTHEW 13:24-46 | PSALM 18:1-15 | PROVERBS 4:1-6
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