Endurance, Patience and Joy

It may be an uncomfortable thought that the Christian life expects endurance. Along with all of the wonderful promises from God about freedom from sin and salvation to eternity is His expectation that, in-spite of years from new birth to our being taken to Him in eternity, we will also endure to that end. 

“For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.” Hebrews 10:36

Along with the idea of endurance, Paul adds in Colossians 1:11, to endure with both patience and in joy. To this end, God strengthens us with all power, His power, the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. 

“…strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy;”

The staying power that God wants in us is fed by our knowledge that this is His will and comes to us daily in the wisdom that matures in us from time in His word, and greater and daily understanding. 

Colossians 1:10, “filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God”.