NOVEMBER 8, 2023

   “Real courage is when you know you're licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what.” 

― Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird

JEREMIAH 49-50

6“My people have been lost sheep;

their shepherds have led them astray

and caused them to roam on the mountains.

They wandered over mountain and hill

and forgot their own resting place. (50:6) 

HEBREWS 5

7During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. 8Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered 9and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him 10

JOURNAL 

One of the best lessons I learned through sports happened when I was a sophomore in High School. It was toward the end of the season and we had lost several players to injury. I was the starting QB and in this particular game...things were not going well. By halftime, I had been sacked 5 times and had thrown 2 interceptions. As I sat in the locker room I dreaded having to go back out on the field, I knew it wasn't going to get any better and I knew I was up against sure defeat along with more bruises to my body as well as my ego. It was in that moment that I realized that I was going to have to face this whether I liked it or not. So...I could either stand up and give my best or I could cower down and mail it in...regardless the hits were going to come. So I decided to stand up and do my best. The hits still came as did another interception. But what shifted was priceless. 

The resolve to stand up in the face of certain defeat that day is something that has served me well over the last 35 years. It hasn't protected me from failure or tough circumstances but it has reminded me to persist and keep going. I realize more and more that tough circumstances are mostly always good. The reality is that we never fully give our best, especially when things are easy. Tough situations force us to face our own laziness, selfishness and sin. It forces us to accept the fact that we can always do and be better. 

It is pretty fascinating to read these words in Hebrews and how it was Jesus' "reverent submission" and that "he learned obedience from what he suffered". That this made him "perfect" and because of that "he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him". So obedience through suffering is what made him perfect. 

Therefore it is no different for us...we become "perfect" through our obedience in suffering. We claim eternal life through this path...it is both humbling and a bit daunting, yet he has already traveled this road and will never leave us as we walk the road and experience all that God has planned.

11For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 

JEREMIAH 29:11-13