Key scripture – “We 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. And this hope will not lead to disappointment” (Romans 5:3-5a).

Have you ever heard the Word “Hupomone”?

Hupomone is a Greek Word that is used in the New Testament, which means the ability to keep on keeping on. Hupomone is generally translated: “To persevere; A quality of character which does not allow one to surrender to circumstances or succumb under trial. It is steadfastness, constancy, endurance, patiently enduring”. It is the staying power that keeps a man/woman going to the end.

The meaning of Hupomone grows as we experience more trials in our life, as indicated in today’s Key scripture and in James 1:3 which says, “For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow”.

You will find that the longer you endure in the Truth, the more you can identify with the words of Peter, when Jesus asked him if he was going to turn back: “Lord, to whom shall we go?” (John 6:68). As a Christian, Hupomone will become part of your essential character; keep on keeping on is what life comes to be all about, no matter what short term blows and long term frustrations you face. The longer you endure, the stronger that force is, even if you mess up and make some wrong decisions.

Moses is described as having Hupomone at the time he fled from Egypt (Hebrews 11:27), even though in the short term he was not operating in faith when he killed an Egyptian and he had to flee in fear (Exodus 2:14,15). Yet God counted him as having that basic ability to endure, even to endure through his own failure and weakness.

Likewise Job is commended for having Hupomone at a time when he was desperate, shaking his fist at God, and doubting whether things would change (James 5:11). Yet God saw all this as surface frustration, and saw that basic desire to endure in Job underneath all the anger and frustration.

Likewise Abraham is described as never wavering in faith (Romans 4:20), even though his relationship with Hagar and his deceit about Sarah being his sister not his wife would suggest that his faith did waver at moments. But he had that understanding of the meaning of Hupomone, that grit deep down to keep going, and God saw through Abrahams surface failures and recognized what lay firmly beneath; and this is what was imputed to him for righteousness. (Romans 4:21-22).

Zacharias was ” blameless” in God’s sight, even though at this time in his life he was lacking faith that his prayers would be answered and that he and his wife would have a child because they were too old (Luke 1:18).

We must endure to the end in our work for the Lord and our relationship with Him. All of us who have Hupomone to the end of the last generation, right up to the day when the Lord comes, will be saved (Matthew 24:13; Luke 21:19). The Lord Jesus had Hupomone, it lead Him to the cross and beyond; and we must share His spirit of Hupomone and obey His command to persevere (2 Thessalonians 3:5; Revelations 1:9; 3:10).

There is no greater joy for me than to see brothers and sisters in Christ holding on and enduring over the years, through all their personal traumas, no matter how high the waves are or how strong the wind is in their life. These people become pillars, they are shoulders that one can heavily lean on, real brothers and sisters-in-arms. The common experience of Hupomone, of enduring together to the end over the years, creates a bond of fellowship which cannot be broken.

So, my beloved brethren, cling to the stability of the Truth, to the Lord God and His Son, Jesus Christ. Be steadfast, unmoveable, as you stand on Jesus, the Rock, and always be abounding in the work of the Lord, as God, our Father, who loves you, and comforts your heart, and establishes you.

Pray this – Our Precious Heavenly Father, I am unmovable because I stand on Jesus, my Rock. I want my faith to endure, persevere, to be steadfast no matter what I face in my life. I will consider it a gift, when tests and challenges come at me from all sides, because I know that under pressure my faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So I will not try to get out of anything prematurely. I will let it do its work so that I become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way. I know that You are using the trials to remove the sin and iniquity from my life. You are doing a major house cleaning, so that I will become like Jesus, perfect and complete, and lacking nothing. I trust in You with all my heart, I lean on You, I put all my weight on Your promises as I let every trial do its work in me. I will not tip toe around Your promises, instead I will plunge head first into the deep end of Your promises. I will keep on keeping on until the day I die or Jesus comes back, whichever happens first. In Jesus Name, I pray, Amen.

Credit: The Holy Bible
Romans 5:3-5a
Bibleverseimages.com
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