ESOCS Devotional 1 April 2021
TEXT: MARK 13:1-13
MEMORY VERSE: “And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” Mark 13:13 KJV
To endure means to suffer (something painful or difficult) patiently. So, enduring to the end means, in general, entering into the gospel covenant (through faith in Christ, repentance, baptism, and receiving the Holy Ghost) and then remaining faithful to that covenant.
Though endurance is not a condition for being saved or remaining saved, for the child of God (one who is saved), endurance is an absolute necessity for a lifetime of fruitfulness and blessing from God.
In our text, Jesus encouraged His disciples to endure to the end because of the various challenges, trials, tribulations, and persecutions that would befall them for His name sake.
Far too many believers “throw in the towel” when things get rough while serving the Lord. How many persons do you know who at one time were being used mightily of the Lord, but who now are spiritual dropouts? This is not how God intends it to be.
If our focus is on Jesus, we will be able to endure. For Jesus is the master of endurance; for the Bible says that we should “Look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb. 12:2). Jesus endured the hostilities of the people when all he wanted to do was show them a better way of life. He endured the false accusations against Him when men refused to hear the truth. He endured the fact that His disciple went to sleep when He needed them to watch for Him a little while. He endured the interrogation of the priests as they interrogated Him and spat on Him and smote Him with their hands. He endured dying a shameful death for you and me; but His endurance didn’t stop there. He endured the cross and three days and three nights in the heart of the earth, so that man will be able to obtain salvation.
Apostle Paul in his letter to Timothy wrote thus: “Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect” (2 Tim. 2:10). In Paul’s case, he was steadfast under tremendous persecutions, trials, and difficulties for the sake of the gospel and the Church. Apostle Paul finished well.
When the writer of Hebrews wrote of Abraham’s trust in God’s promise of a child, he said of him: “And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise” (Heb. 6:15). The promise here is not of eternal salvation, but of God’s guarantee that through His servant Abraham, the entire world would be blessed through his offspring. Abraham finished well.
When we endure the trials of life, we have assurance that we will also finish well.
Read yesterday’s ESOCS Devotional here
CHALLENGES
What are the things that discourage you from enduring persecutions for the sake of Christ? deal with them.
PRAYER POINT
Ask the Lord to give you grace to endure the pain and shame for His sake.
FURTHER READING: 2 Corinthians 4:8-12; 2 Timothy 2:9-12
Thank you for reading the ESOCS Devotional today. Please share and follow us on all our platforms to contribute to the spread of the Gospel.
ESOCS Devotional 1 April 2021
