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The Grace To Persevere

Introduction

We all know that faith without works is dead. But not many know that faith without hard work will not last. We cannot live our lives on autopilot. We have to persevere. And perseverance takes hard work. People will work hard for their studies. They will work hard for their careers. But they will not work hard to remain true to their calling in Christ. It’s time we learn that grace is not opposed to hard work. What must we work hard to develop? (2 Timothy 2:20-26)

THREE QUALITIES

  1. *Preparedness* (2 Timothy 2:20-21) – It takes hard work to be useful to our Master Jesus. There are so many things in this world that we can be involved in, and they are not necessarily evil. But it takes hard work to stay focused on God’s vision for our lives. We are called to reflect and represent Him by taking responsibility in this world under His rule and for His glory.
  2. *Purity* (2 Timothy 2:22) – The pressure of the world to squeeze us into its own pattern of ungodliness and wickedness will always be a challenge for us while we are in our mortal bodies. Our minds will always be bombarded by evil thoughts and desires. Keeping our hearts pure in the midst of this pressure will not happen naturally unless we work hard.
  3. *Peaceful relationships* (2 Timothy 2:23-26) – Dealing with those who oppose our message will always be frustrating. But sometimes the opposition is from within the church. There will always be people who will be stubborn and unrepentant. They will choose to live opposite of God’s will no matter what we say. This can easily cause resentment. But we must work hard to teach the truth.

Conclusion

  1. It takes *hard work* to *persevere until the end*.
  2. Perseverance in the Christian life does not happen naturally.
  3. This week, ask God to give you the grace to work hard so that you can persevere until the end.

Discussion

  1. Why do some Christians give up too soon on their spiritual journey?
  2. Why is hard work necessary to persevere in the Christian life?
  3. What will you do differently this week to stay motivated in your Christian walk?

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