Why is perseverance so important? - Perseverance - TouchPoints

John 15:5“Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit.”

Galatians 6:9Let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.

Perseverance leads to a productive life. There are short term (seasonal) and long term (lifetime) periods of productivity. Some harvests come after a short wait; other harvests must wait for years. Giving up always leaves you with the frustration of unfinished work. But if you persevere in serving God, you can look back with satisfaction on a productive life.

2 Corinthians 8:10-11It would be good for you to finish what you started a year ago. Last year you were the first who wanted to give, and you were the first to begin doing it. Now you should finish what you started. Let the eagerness you showed in the beginning be matched now by your giving.

Perseverance validates your promises and demonstrates your credibility. It allows you to demonstrate to yourself as well as to God that you trust in him.

Matthew 7:7“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.”

Luke 18:1-8One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up. “There was a judge in a certain city,” he said, “who neither feared God nor cared about people. A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, ‘Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.’ The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, ‘I don’t fear God or care about people, but this woman is driving me crazy. I’m going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!’” Then the Lord said, “Learn a lesson from this unjust judge. Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?”

God honors perseverance in prayer. All perseverance is wrapped in an expectant hope for the future. It rests on God’s faithfulness and justice. Perseverance in prayer demonstrates your faith and hope that God is listening, that he cares, and that he will respond.

Romans 5:3-4We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.

1 Peter 1:6-7These trials will show that your faith is genuine. . . . So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

To stay strong, to persevere, to endure—these characteristics help you to deal with problems. They have their greatest effect when expressed with joy. God uses adversity to make you strong. Without adversity, there is nothing to exercise the muscles of your faith. Ask God to give you a glimpse of what he wants you to learn as you joyfully persevere through difficult times.

James 1:2-4Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

2 Peter 1:5-9Make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Perseverance produces, among other bi-products, godliness, love, productivity, usefulness, growth, strength of character, preparedness, strong faith, and eternal rewards. The results make the costs worthwhile.

1 Peter 2:19God is pleased when, conscious of his will, you patiently endure unjust treatment.

Revelation 2:19“I know all the things you do. I have seen your love, your faith, your service, and your patient endurance. And I can see your constant improvement in all these things.”

Endurance honors God and his plan for you. It can be a continual acknowledgment that God never loses sight of you. You are under observation by God for good.

Matthew 24:13“The one who endures to the end will be saved.”

1 Timothy 4:16Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you.

2 Timothy 2:10-13I [Paul] am willing to endure anything if it will bring salvation and eternal glory in Christ Jesus to those God has chosen. This is a trustworthy saying: If we die with him, we will also live with him. If we endure hardship, we will reign with him. If we deny him, he will deny us. If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is.

No matter what you are facing, the value of perseverance involves more than you. You may be instrumental in providing encouragement to others by your trust in Christ and willingness to suffer.

Romans 2:7He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers.

2 Timothy 4:5-8Work at telling others the Good News, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you. . . . I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return.

Hebrews 3:14If we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ.

Hebrews 10:36Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.

James 1:12God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

1 Peter 4:13These trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.

Revelation 3:5“All who are victorious will be clothed in white. I will never erase their names from the Book of Life.”

Those who persevere in their faith will share in the eternal riches of Christ.

2 Corinthians 1:6Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer.

1 Peter 5:9Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are.

Revelation 1:9I, John, am your brother and your partner in suffering and in God’s Kingdom and in the patient endurance to which Jesus calls us. I was exiled to the island of Patmos for preaching the word of God and for my testimony about Jesus.

Perseverance encourages others to be patient, work hard, and have faith. They will see the benefits of a life of perseverance and want the same, now and for eternity. Perseverance strengthens the bonds between believers.