April 5, 2024

Today's Reading: Hebrews 12:1-24

Daily Lectionary:Exodus 18:5-27, Hebrews 12:1-24

Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1b-2)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. We’re not really built for endurance in our society today. We have a way out of, or away from just about any kind of suffering we can imagine. We will even avoid things that are mildly inconvenient, or mask over them by retreating to our phones for that next dopamine fix. When difficult things come, we do not know how to handle them, or what endurance even looks like.

But our Lord built us for endurance. Jesus says, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24) And, “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.” (Matthew 5:11)St. Paul also says, “we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame….” (Romans 5:3-5a) Or as the verse that my pastor gave me on my Confirmation day says, “Do not fear what you are about to suffer… Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.” (Revelation 2:10)

You see, there is more joy when suffering is over than can ever be achieved by running away from it. And Jesus has that in store for us, both in this life, and into the next. That’s why we confess our sins, and receive forgiveness instead of pretending we have no sin. That’s why we endure the cost of being a Christian in this pagan world, with the sure and certain hope of eternal life. And that’s why Jesus, for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross. His joy was in your salvation.

After Jesus said, “It is finished” (John 19:30) on the cross, He cried out with a loud shout. I think it was a shout of joy. Because it shook the earth, tore the curtain of the temple in two, and raised the dead. But the suffering was done. He endured. Your forgiveness is won. And now, it was time to rest.

Remember, the Lord has built you for endurance. He is the one who gives it to you. He is your founder and perfecter. And His gifts of life, forgiveness, and salvation are worth enduring all for. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Hymns of praise then let us sing, Alleluia!  Unto Christ our heav’nly king, Alleluia!  Who endured the cross and grave, Alleluia!  Sinners to redeem and save, Alleluia!  (LSB 457:2)

- Pastor Eli Davis is pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Grants Pass, Oregon.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, Ky.

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