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Happy Thurdsay once again, reader,
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Hopefully you happily survive today's snowy weather. But don't lose hope! Spring will come. You just need to persevere through one more month.
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Speaking of perseverance, that's the topic of the next part in our series The Work of Jesus. We hope it encourages you no matter where you are spiritually or emotionally this week.
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Jesus Perseveres
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I remember when my boys were little, one of their favorite activities was to play various games on our Nintendo Wii. However, when their hour of playtime was done, the games didn't truly end. Whether it was Wii Sports Resort or Mario Kart, their adventures (& frustrations) were repeated ad nauseam, whether to one another or (preferably) to Mom.
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However, my wife could not have cared less about how much "drift" Funky Kong got on a dirt bike, or what combinations Kirby can unleash in Smash Bros, or even how many points were scored in frisbee golf (with its cute Wii dog) if she had tried. Yet despite her complete lack of interest in Mario's ability to knock Donkey Kong off a platform, Mom would patiently listen and even ask questions of her two little Wii players. Why subject herself to such torture?
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Because she loved her boys.
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Persevering To and Through the Cross
While God probably doesn't mind listening to your most mundane prayers or Wii Sports adventures, He shows His intense love for you through the perseverance of Jesus, both through life and through the cross.
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Unlike us, Jesus didn't vacillate in life. In John 13:1, shortly before we see Jesus wash the feet of His disciples, we read that Jesus...
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"...having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end."
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Jesus was completely committed to His guys. There was no expiration date to His love for them. He wasn't about to let their friendship simply fade because of distance and time. He was willing to go through the hell of the cross for their sake. He loved them to the end.
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Yet, Jesus didn't go through the awful events of Holy Week simply for the Twelve. He did it for you and me and countless others as well.
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You know what that means, right? Just as Jesus loved His disciples to the end, Jesus will love you to the end. If you have put your faith in Jesus, He will keep on loving you even through your worst moments, through the unfairness you face, through the doubts that hammer your heart, and through whatever trials life throws at you.
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But not only will He love you through it all, He can also give you strength through His Spirit for you to persevere through it all. His perseverance should help empower your perseverance.
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So hang on to Him! Don't let go. Let Him carry you through the joys and sorrows of life. Because one of the works of Jesus is to persevere for and with you.
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Gospel on the Move
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Starting on Feb. 26, we will begin a new sermon series on the book of Acts called The Gospel on the Move. Invite a friend as we dive into the growth and advancement of the Church through the Gospel.
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Ash Wednesday
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Ash Wednesday, Feb. 22, marks the first day of Lent. May these weeks be a time of preparing our hearts for Easter through prayer and Scripture reading.
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The Book of Acts
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During the month of March, we invite you to read through the book of Acts. If you read a chapter a week, 6 days a week (with Sunday as a catch-up day), you'll be able to get through the entire book of Acts in exactly one month.
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Learn More
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Ash Wednesday serves as a solemn reminder of Jesus' work on the cross. Some choose to fast or spend time in prayer as they reflect on Jesus' atoning sacrifice for their sins. The Bible Project created this video on Sacrifice and Atonement to help you better understand Jesus as the ultimate sacrifice for the sins of the world.
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