October 1, 2014.

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”
(Romans 8:18)

Don’t give up.

Don’t ever give up. No matter how bad things seem, no matter how lost you feel. Don’t give up. There will be times of pain, times of suffering, times of loss. There will be hardships, there will be mistakes, there will be failures. The world will press in hard and it may seem like the victory is far out of reach. However- don’t give up.

“For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent,
    and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not be quiet,
until her righteousness goes forth as brightness,
    and her salvation as a burning torch.
The nations shall see your righteousness,
    and all the kings your glory,
and you shall be called by a new name
    that the mouth of the Lord will give.
You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord,
    and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.”
(Isaiah 62:1-3)

There is coming a day when everything will be worth it. This life, with all its trials and tribulations, will seem as nothing. Don’t give up. It should be considered that the small amount of persecution here will pale in comparison of eternal glory. Let us press on, let us look upwards, let us emulate Christ in everything we do.

Don’t give up.

We are beat down time and again, often by none other than ourselves with our foolish decisions and actions. Time and again do we look to a Holy and Righteous Savior and see just how far short we indeed fall of His glory. We are unworthy, but He has made us worthy. Washed in His blood and made to stand before the throne of God, blameless, though undeserving. Don’t give up.

“You shall no more be termed Forsaken,
    and your land shall no more be termed Desolate,
but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her,
    and your land Married;
for the Lord delights in you,
    and your land shall be married.
For as a young man marries a young woman,
    so shall your sons marry you,
and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride,
    so shall your God rejoice over you.”
(Isaiah 62:4-5)

The world does not know the glory that is laid up for us! The world does not see! Don’t give up. They mock, they scorn, they laugh in our faces- but they do not know. And why should we be blessed alone? We must let them know. We must endure the words and fight though the pain. We must not give up. The world needs us, though they torment us so. Don’t give up.

Persevere, you inhabitants of that holy city! As a bride adorned for her husband, wash your wedding garments white in the blood. Proclaim His name, teach His word, be His disciple. And never, ever give up.

“On your walls, O Jerusalem,
    I have set watchmen;
all the day and all the night
    they shall never be silent.
You who put the Lord in remembrance,
    take no rest,
and give him no rest
    until he establishes Jerusalem
    and makes it a praise in the earth.”
(Isaiah 62:6-7)

The reward is coming, just lean on the promises. The Lord is always true to His word. Lay your burdens down at His feet and cast off your heavy load. Then take up your cross and follow Him. The road is straight and narrow, but it leads to the Almighty. It leads to peace, it leads to rest, it leads to salvation. Don’t give up.

The Lord is watching over us, and He will not allow us to be snatched away. He will cover us with his protecting hand. Just don’t give up. Don’t give up on the Lord, for He won’t give up on you. He remains faithful, for He cannot lie, and he wishes all to come to repentance. He is our loving Father, concerned about our well being. He wants us to stay strong, strong and courageous. Lock your eyes, set your heart and never give up.

“The Lord has sworn by his right hand
    and by his mighty arm:
“I will not again give your grain
    to be food for your enemies,
and foreigners shall not drink your wine
    for which you have labored;
but those who garner it shall eat it
    and praise the Lord,
and those who gather it shall drink it
    in the courts of my sanctuary.”
(Isaiah 62:8-9)

“But we fall, we fall! Alas, O our God!” There indeed are times of failure. But His grace makes us whole. We cannot stand blameless before the Father on our own. Our sins, our iniquities would cause us to be consumed. We would not survive. We cannot survive, except it be for the blood of Christ, our passover Lamb.

We are washed in the blood! Hallelujah to the King! Let us sing praises to him all the day long! Let the rocks and hills cry out, for the Savior reigns! And He has made us whole. Though we make our mistakes, though we dirty our robes with sin, He lights the way back home. Stand back up, we of little faith! Stand back up though grace. We have been forgiven, redeemed, ransomed with the most precious gift that could ever be offered. Rise, rise when you fall, rise to walk again anew, for our King reigns. He is able to make us stand.

Never, ever give up.

“Go through, go through the gates;
    prepare the way for the people;
build up, build up the highway;
    clear it of stones;
    lift up a signal over the peoples.
Behold, the Lord has proclaimed
    to the end of the earth:
Say to the daughter of Zion,
    “Behold, your salvation comes;
behold, his reward is with him,
    and his recompense before him.”
And they shall be called The Holy People,
    The Redeemed of the Lord;
and you shall be called Sought Out,
    A City Not Forsaken.”
(Isaiah 62:10-12)

Suggested Daily Reading: Isaiah 59-62.

Don’t give up.

-Walter