Looking unto Jesus
1Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2.
Paul returned to Rome from his fourth missionary journey which ranged from Spain to Asia incorporating over three years only to face arrest by the Roman authorities. Most of his missionary travels were by foot covering thousands of miles along dusty roads and across mountain passes. He was waiting in jail for trial while secreting letters through messengers to calm a group of scared and embattled Jewish Christians. Despite his shackles, he was encouraging perseverance with a continued focus on Jesus, “the pioneer and perfecter of faith”. These Christians, not unlike today, found their faith threatened by leadership, social pressure, cultural norms, false gods, and political unrest. The Jewish leaders were persecuting the Christians, Rome’s Christian churches were being banned, the disciples were being placed under arrest, and an intense social pressure was directed toward all Christians blamed for the political unrest. Paul was appealing to them to continue to tell the Gospel story, baptize, build new churches, and advance the teachings of Christ.
Perseverance is a rare attribute that is hard to define, can’t be bottled, and is often difficult to visualize but remains the cornerstone of the advancement of our faith. I remember a story of a ninth grader facing his first academic counseling session. The young man had long dreamed of attending college following in the footsteps of his father and uncle. The assistant principal thumbed quietly through the brown cardboard file and slowly lifted his gaze to the young man squirming nervously in the oak ladder-back school chair. “Well after a review of your records, I must in all honesty suggest that you pursue a trade young man, you are just not college material. You will be far more successful if you pursue something more attainable and better matched for your skill set”. The young man emblazoned the words, “just not college material” in his mind quietly planning a different future. Nine years later he graduated college then earned an advanced degree under a fellowship. Thirty-five years later he returned to the same college to teach both graduate and undergraduate students for the last ten years of his career. We find the inspiration for perseverance in many places. Paul explains that our motivation for Christian perseverance is found in Christ supported by the presence and support of the Holy Spirit.
The advancement of Christianity around the world was not meant to occur in a lifetime rather in millennia carried through the faith, fortitude, and stamina of many. It is a long endurance race. Winston Churchill, a veteran of multiple wars understood the impact of fear and crisis on a nation. He wrote, “Without courage, all other virtues lose their meaning …Success is not final, failure is not fatal … it is the courage to continue that counts.”1
Our church ministry and missionary efforts are under a quiet siege in the United States hidden in camouflage of separation of church and state, social consent of “all the above” religions, cultural norms counter to the teachings and commandments, societal Christian apathy, and the focus on “me-now” materialism. But I’m reminded that we can still practice and advance our Christian faith without fear of violence. Perhaps the obstacles and rejection we encounter in South Carolina are nothing more than instructive training preparing us for greater tasks. Christians in North Korea, Somalia, Yemen, Sudan, Syria, Nigeria, Pakistan, Libya, and Iran are facing religious and governmental-directed persecution and suffering blatant violent attacks because of their belief in Christ. In 2025 4,849 Christians were killed for their faith according to Global Christian Relief.2
1I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, on the basis of God’s mercy, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your reasonable act of worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of the mind, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:1-2.
I recently read a two-part challenge by Mark Batterson for everyone professing to be Christian. He writes “… are you stewarding your God-given gifts pursuing a God-ordained dream” and are you “…going for broke by invading the darkness with the light and love of Jesus Christ?” 3 We are called to advance the Gospel of our Lord Jesus pursuing not our plan but God’s. What is your God-given dream?
Prayer: Jesus forgive our reluctance to pursue the kingdom with all our God-given talents and resources. Help us to gather our resolve paired with unmatched patient perseverance to advance our God-given mission. We ask Your blessings on our families, our church, and our community. Guide us in building strong churches with actively engaged congregations that represent beacons of hope and redemption in our community. We make this prayer in the name of our Lord and Savior. Amen.
1 https://www.developgoodhabits.com/success-not-final/.
2 https://globalchristianrelief.org/stories/christian-persecution-statistics/.
3 3 Mark Batterson, All In: You are one decision away from a totally different life. Zondervan Books, 2013, Page 57.
The Wesleyan Bridge is written by K.B. Kelly with the Reverend Valerie Mireb and Pastor Hank Brooks as Theological Editors and Debbie Kelly as Text and Content Editor.