Seize the Moment – Day 1263
Persevere with a Purpose!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Friday, September 1.
Through all they have been through, the mere survival of Israel proves the inspiration of the Bible. Psalm 129:1-2 describes their perseverance, “‘Many times they have persecuted me from my youth up,’ Let Israel now say, ‘Many times they have persecuted me from my youth up; yet they have not prevailed against me.’” Boice remarks on Israel’s perseverance:
The Jews are the longest-enduring distinct ethnic people on the planet. They have been slandered, hated, persecuted, expelled, pursued, and murdered throughout their long existence, but they have survived intact. In fact, many are now back in their own traditional homeland of Israel. They are a brilliant, talented people, but survival has been their chief achievement.[1]
There is a difficult reality that Christians must share with Israel: as God’s chosen people, we must suffer for His purposes. We are to walk in God’s ways so that all the peoples of the world would come to know God and be blessed by Him. While one would think that such a lofty and laudable goal would lead to peace and harmony amongst the nations, especially toward Israel and the church, the opposite has occurred. Instead, the people of God have had to learn how to persevere on their divine mission while striving to survive. Paul testified to this truth in 2 Corinthians 4:7-10:
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.
God bless you!
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YOUTUBE:
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FOOTNOTE:
[1] James Montgomery Boice, Psalms 107–150: An Expositional Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2005), 1130–1131.