January 26, 2019 ● 19-07
2 Cor. 4:1: Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart.
Gal. 6:9: Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.
2 Thes. 3:13: But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary of doing good.
Have you ever gotten so tired you wanted to quit? I have. I ran a half-marathon one time to raise money for a good cause. Unfortunately my knees didn’t think running 13 miles was good for anything! During the course of that run I wanted to quit several times but kept going because I knew I was helping raise money for a good cause.
How about when it comes to serving the Lord? Have you ever gotten so tired and discouraged you wanted to quit, wanted to just throw your hands up and walk away? No doubt if you have served the Lord any length of time you have probably felt that way at least once, that you have been so tired and discouraged you wanted to just walk away.
Discouragement is one of the most powerful weapons the enemy uses against those who faithfully serve the Lord. The apostle Paul knew what it meant to be physically tired and spiritually discouraged, but Paul kept serving, and he encouraged the church to keep serving.
Here what the Bible teaches us about not growing weary in serving the Lord:
- It takes prayer to not grow weary. There is no way any of us can continue to serve the Lord apart from prayer. Through prayer we gain spiritual insight, through prayer we gain spiritual energy, through prayer we enlist the resources of heaven to do what only God through the Holy Spirit can do.
- It takes discipline to not grow weary. Discipline comes from knowing what God has called us to do and persevering in that call regardless of setbacks or difficulties. Satan loves to throw obstacles our way if it will prevent us from serving. Along the way we need encouragement, along the way there will be hardships and stumbles and difficulties; but at every step of the way there is the joy and peace that only comes through the transforming grace of Jesus Christ.
- It takes the grace of God to not grow weary. It’s God’s grace that saves us, it’s God’s grace that sustains us every day.
Sometimes you get tired, sometimes you get discouraged in serving the Lord. You don’t see results, people don’t come, or they don’t come back. You pray, you study, you reach out, and it seems you don’t see any results. It may seem at times that God is not working.
But He is working and He continues to work. Just remember, even though you may not be able to trace His hand, you can always trust His heart. Remember this one truth about serving the Lord, and it is a great liberating truth:
God has not called any of us to produce results – that’s God’s business. He has called and equipped us to serve Him until we see Him in glory.
My part and your part is to continue to serve, continue to pray, continue to love. Let God’s Word equip you to not grow weary in doing good.
Ps. 126:5: Those who sow in tears shall reap with joyful shouting.