Perseverance

Perseverance is a very important trait to have in Leadership. It is being steadfastness in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success. Permanence, perseverance and persistence in spite of all obstacles, discouragements, and impossibilities: It is this, that in all things distinguishes the strong soul from the weak. Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish.

Jesus Christ is the ultimate example of perseverance in the face of suffering and obstacles. In 2 Timothy 2:3-7, Paul gave Timothy three examples of people who persevere, the soldier, the athlete, and the farmer.

• The soldier. A soldier’s one duty is to obey his commanding officer. And, like good solders, we are to persevere in our obedience to Christ. Our primary goal is to please Him, even when it requires us to go on the front lines of spiritual warfare. Jesus is the greatest example of a Soldier. He was obedient even to death for us. He fought the ultimate battle for us — and won (Phil. 2:8-9)
• The athlete. Paul likely was familiar with the Olympic games. In his day, athletes trained in the presence of the judges during the month before the games. If an athlete violated the rules, the judges imposed corporal punishment, or heavy fines. To be victorious, the athlete needed diligence, self-control, and discipline. Jesus is the greatest example on an athlete. He endured until He was victorious over sin and death and gained the prize — our salvation. (Hebrews 12:2)
• The farmer. A hardworking farmer should get to enjoy the compensation of his produce. But he has to persevere in working his crops for months before he sees the fruit of his or her labor by seeing people come to faith in Christ. Jesus is the greatest example of a farmer. He alone has the power to break apart the hardened soil in a person’s life to bear spiritual fruit (Matthew 13: 1-23)

Perseverance is the hard work you do after you get tired of doing the hard work you already did. Sharing Christ isn’t easy. It takes focus, discipline, and hard work, but the payoffs make it worth it.

Paul knew about persevering for the sake of sharing Christ. While he was writing his letter to Timothy, he was in chains in a Roman prison. Worse, he knew he soon would be put to death by his captors (2 Timothy 4:6). Even through out this, Paul declared that “God’s message is not bound.” He knew that he might die, but the gospel never would. In fact, the gospel of Jesus Christ had become Paul’s very life; he called it “my gospel.”

These are great examples of Perseverance. How do you want to spend your life?

The choice is yours.

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