The Prophetic Word - Day 102: Stay in it, to win it.

“Blessed [happy, spiritually prosperous, favored by God] is the man who is steadfast under trial and perseveres when tempted; for when he has passed the test and been approved, he will receive the [victor’s] crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” ‭‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭12‬ ‭AMP‬‬

Many recipes take for granted that the one attempting to follow the recipe has a basic understanding of certain culinary principles. However, that “basic understanding” is not always a given.

Several years ago I came across a recipe for one of the many “impossible crust” recipes. Unfortunately, the writer of the recipe had left a typo which I am sure probably caused great angst for some unexperienced cooks.

You see, the recipe said, “Blend the ingredients for 15 minutes.” Now, I “instinctively” knew that should have read, “Blend the ingredients for 15 seconds.” I still chuckle thinking of someone who doesn’t know better, standing at their blender for 15 minutes, watching it probably overflow, if it doesn’t burn out first.

Recently, while making chocolate ganache, that whole scenario came back to me. As I began to stir the ingredients for the ganache, I remembered the first time I attempted to make it and how I thought that what I was doing was somehow off. You see, what I was stirring looked like it would never be the dark, thick, wonderful, chocolate confection I was after. But thankfully, the writer of this recipe, had remarked that it would look like it wasn’t going to work, but to just stick with it. I did and it did.

Whereas I hope what has been said might one day help you in your culinary pursuits, you’ve probably already gleaned that we aren’t just talking about recipes.

Hebrews 11 has been called “the hall of fame of faith”; and, so it is. But, to fully appreciate how it is being used by the writer of Hebrews, we must discover the context of its placement. To do that, let us look at the scriptures just before Hebrews 11 (remember, chapter designations were not part of the original communication):

“Do not, therefore, fling away your [fearless] confidence, for it has a glorious and great reward. For you have need of patient endurance [to bear up under difficult circumstances without compromising], so that when you have carried out the will of God, you may receive and enjoy to the full what is promised. For yet in a very little while, He who is coming will come, and will not delay. But My righteous one [the one justified by faith] shall live by faith [respecting man’s relationship to God and trusting Him]; And if he draws back [shrinking in fear], My soul has no delight in him. But our way is not that of those who shrink back to destruction, but [we are] of those who believe [relying on God through faith in Jesus Christ, the Messiah] and by this confident faith preserve the soul.” ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭10‬:‭35‬-‭39‬ ‭AMP‬‬

In the above verses we see the writer of Hebrews exhorting Hebrew Christians to stay the course of faith.

You see, the Hebrew Christians were going through great persecution and trials because of their faith in Jesus Christ. Here, the writer is basically saying what the aforementioned ganache recipe writer said in instructing to keep stirring even though it looks like a mess. That is, trust the process. And, for our purposes, trust God’s process! Hebrews 11 is encouragement to do just that: endure through faith to share in the reward of the faithful who have gone before us.

Now, turning to the scriptures just after Hebrews 11, we find direction as to HOW to keep the faith and to stay the course:

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who by faith have testified to the truth of God’s absolute faithfulness], stripping off every unnecessary weight and the sin which so easily and cleverly entangles us, let us run with endurance and active persistence the race that is set before us, [looking away from all that will distract us and] focusing our eyes on Jesus, who is the Author and Perfecter of faith [the first incentive for our belief and the One who brings our faith to maturity], who for the joy [of accomplishing the goal] set before Him endured the cross, disregarding the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God [revealing His deity, His authority, and the completion of His work]. Just consider and meditate on Him who endured from sinners such bitter hostility against Himself [consider it all in comparison with your trials], so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭AMP‬‬

Yes, Jesus is the perfect example of Someone Who was in it, to win it. And, in order to do what He did, we must cast off whatever would hinder our forward progress by staying focused on Him, no matter what may come!

In our opening scripture we see encouragement from James concerning the need for endurance in order to receive the prize. In this case, the prize is the “crown of life.” And, my friend, that crown of life is the ultimate prize for all who will be in it (the walk of faith), to win it!

We’ll talk more about this tomorrow.

Peace to you. Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him! #ThePropheticWord