I hope this finds each of you well!  I was asked recently (yesterday as a matter of fact) what I felt like God’s calling on my life was.  In truth, I do not have an exact answer.  I feel like God calls each of us to different things at different times, in different seasons.

My hope is that in whatever season God has you, that He is bringing you means of regular refreshment in your faith, giving peace to your souls; that in every circumstance, we can find joy in the God of our salvation, Jesus.

In the 11th chapter of the book of Hebrews, we are presented with a long list of persons, “heroes of the faith”, that were no different than you or I, yet are examples of faith in action within a fallen, sinful world.  With that as a foundation, we are meant to be encouraged in the gospel in Hebrews 12:1-4 – “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 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.  Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.”

There are three observations, that I want us all to see as Christians (knowing that the book of Hebrews was written to Christians).

1. We are not alone in our fight against sin, and it is expected that each of us as Christians has sin in our life.  There is not an expectation of perfection of you and it is silly, unhelpful, and wrong to put that weight on yourself – that is not your weight to bear, Christ has already born the wrath of God for all your sin.  No, it is expected that we have sin, but as adopted sons and daughters of God, in faith, we are believing the gospel, that our sin was judged in Christ, and we are righteous in Him.  Therefore, we are battling against the sin in and around us, seeking to manifest this gospel truth outwardly.
2. This battle is not something that is won in a day and we should not have expectations that it will be.  Instead we should prepare ourselves like a marathon runner, to be running this race and battling sin for the rest of our lives.
3. The source of our endurance is joy.  This joy is not ultimately rooted in this world, but in gospel, our assured hope of eternity in perfect peace, perfect love, free from even the presence of sin, in the next with Jesus.

My encouragement here for us all is to take a moment, stop, and consider who you are in Christ, by faith in the gospel.  By your ongoing faith that Jesus died the death you deserved for your sins, and that as Jesus was risen from the grave, you too will rise one day in glory to spend eternity with God.  What is the end of the hope of the gospel? How should our heart feel when we consider this?  Words cease where God begins.  Our minds stop now, limited by sin, where we cannot fathom the joy that awaits us there.  No more sin.  No more suffering.  Nothing but unceasing, limitless joy, in perfect relationship with our Creator and Lord, and each other.  My encouragement is to just let your soul simmer there in the gospel as long as needed, joined to Christ, until joy rises up; joy enough to power the endurance of your faith each day.  God is eager to meet you there, and that joy is secure, a joy that can never be taken away from you, regardless of what today or this life brings.

Colossians 3:2-4 – “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.  For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”