Durable Faith!

Durability. That's what we like in the products we buy. We want them to be well built so as to provide years of good use for the money we spend. For everyday items we seek the quality Timex® for years advertised as "TAKES A LICKING AND KEEPS ON TICKING." However, though I had Timex® watches before that did seem to last well, the time still came when they ticked no more and had to be replaced. (It was at least cheaper to replace them than to have them repaired.)

Durability. Perhaps that may bring to mind the RESILIENCE of the human spirit that keeps on keeping on in spite of adversity. Resilience is defined as the ability to recover quickly from setbacks. While some allow life's setbacks to cause them to give up, others -- though perhaps stopped for a moment -- get right back up and press on in spite of them. Because there is a cause worth holding fast to and something worth pressing on for, though the life may appear to TAKE A LICKING, IT KEEPS ON TICKING!

This makes me think of Peter and the other Apostles when the Jewish leaders attempted to halt their preaching. Peter and John had been brought before the council, questioned, and told not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus. ( Acts 4:3, 13-18) Later the Apostles were again arrested and put in prison, but an angel released them, and they went right back to their public teaching. ( Acts 5:17-21) Brought before the council again, they were reminded of the charge to stop their preaching ( Acts 5:27-28), but as at other times, the Apostles held to obeying God rather than men. ( Acts 4:19-20; 5:29)

When the decision was made to release the apostles, we read. . .
"(40) and when they had called in the apostles, THEY BEAT THEM and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. (41) Then THEY LEFT the presence of the council, REJOICING that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. (42) And every day, in the temple and from house to house, THEY DID NOT CEASE TEACHING AND PREACHING Jesus as the Christ." ( Acts 5:40-42 ESV)

Yes, they TOOK A LICKING, BUT KEPT ON TICKING! They were unstoppable in sharing the massage of salvation in Christ. It did not matter who opposed them, they pressed on anyway.

Do we believe enough in Christ and the reality salvation is only in Him ( Acts 4:12) that we are growing in such RESILIENCE of faith? May the "mainspring" of our faith be wound up by the resolve that life entrusted to the Lord and His purposes is worth pressing on in no matter what we face. Obedience to men may ward off some challenges in this realm, but it is obedience and surrender to God's Will that provides us with eternal blessings and stands to presently bring the greatest blessing to others around us. When others look to see what makes us "tick", may they find it is our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Have a great day ENERGIZED BY ENDURING FAITH!
Carl

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