Well it’s been almost a full month since you made one or several resolutions. The question is not so much what have you accomplished, but rather, are you still striving in your resolution? It may be too soon for perfection but not for endurance. Good intentions have to be coupled with a stronger desire to continue when you are met with the temptation to stop or procrastinate.

For many of us there was probably a resolution to follow Jesus more faithfully this coming year. The Bible uses the language of a race when it comes to living the Christian life. For example in Hebrews 12:1, “…let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” The key word here is endurance. To endure is to keep moving. It’s not so much the pace but the consistency. One writer put the Christian life in this simple phrase, "It’s not a sprint but a marathon!"

The goal is to know and honor Jesus. The more we endure, the more we know him, and in turn, the more we reflect him. That same passage in Hebrews concludes it all well, “…looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

May our Savior give you the faith, the energy and the power to endure this year, and all the years he has for you, and to him be the glory.

One of the promises our Lord gives to those who endure is growth. Theologians call this sanctification or growing in the character and knowledge of Jesus. That will be our focus for next month (February) as we seek to be a church that looks more and more like the body of Christ.

Tenth Highlight

Once again we have to say goodbye to someone here at Tenth, namely, my son-in-law Will Spokes and my daughter Meg and their four boys (Liam, Elliot, Henry, and Oliver). It will be hard, but in God’s wisdom and providence it will be good. Please pray for them and thank them, and pray for us as we will surely miss them and their ministry these past few years.

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Please include the following statement on any distributed copy: By Jerry McFarland. © 2024 Tenth Presbyterian Church. Website: tenth.org