We’ve got your daily encouragement, written by Jenny Jones.
Bible Reading:
7 To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. 8 But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.
Romans 2:7-8
Word:
Because I post a lot about fitness, my workouts, and my overall health journey, I often get asked the same questions repeatedly, and one of my very favorite questions to answer is, “What is your favorite thing about CrossFit?” You want to know my answer? Of course, you do, or you wouldn’t still be reading!
My answer is undoubtedly always, “When it is over!” A little tongue and cheek? Absolutely! But it is true and not just because the end of the workout means the end of my journey to the “pain cave”, but also because I love that feeling of accomplishment. The feeling of looking at the whiteboard afterwards and being in so proud of what I was able to do with my body and what my mind was able to push through.
The same is true of the words of the Apostle Paul in our Bible reading today! Paul is saying, those who by PERSISTENCE IN DOING GOOD (in other words, never let up in using their behavior, gifts, and skills in doing good) seek glory, honor, and immorality (and not their own glory and honor but that of God whom their strength comes from) He will give eternal life. Meaning there are times in which life is going to feel like going through the hardest workout you have ever faced, you are going to want to give up, you are going to get a little banged up, you may even take more rest breaks than needed, but when you PESIST in doing good, even in those times, the reward far outweighs the pain. The moment of standing back and looking at what God was able to do in you and through you because you PERSISTED will far outweigh the sacrifice it took to PERSIST.
Rich Froning (4x Fittest Man on Earth and 5x CrossFit Games Team Champion) has a saying in which he says, “the only way through the storm is into it.” This is true in CrossFit, the only way through a workout is into it and this is true in life. Yet, if you are a believer, you never have to go into the storm alone, in fact the only way you will get through the storm in a manner that honor God and gives Him glory, is by allowing Christ to lead you through the storm. Then, and only then, will you be able to PERSIST, and your reward be far greater than even the most precious thing in your life!
Prayer:
Father, in moments when the storm of life is overwhelming, please give me the strength, wisdom, and bravery to not turn away but to be led by you through the storm. Give me the ability to persist in my walk with you by doing good in a way that is not about me but about giving You glory and honor. In Jesus name, Amen.
Skillwork:
Take some time today to think about areas of your life in which you need some persistence. How can you be more dependent on God in these areas? How can you use these circumstances to bring God glory and honor? And, lastly, who can you call on to help encourage you to persist in particularly hard times?
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