Never give up (Matthew 10:40)

SCRIPTURE: Matthew 10:40 (TM)

We are intimately linked in this harvest work. Anyone who accepts what you do, accepts me, the One who sent you. Anyone who accepts what I do accepts my Father, who sent me.

STORY:

In 1900, the Daughters of the American Revolution elected social reformer Jane Addams to honorary membership. But Addams's antiwar stance during World War I and her insistence that even subversives had a right to trial by due process caused them to expel her. She commented that she had thought her election to the DAR was for life, but now knew it was for good behavior. 

OBSERVATION:

It was a particularly difficult period in the ministry. It seemed that attacks were coming from all angles and if the comments were to be believed, from everyone in the church. It wasn’t true, but doubt plants the seed that frustration waters. It was even hard to breathe. Then my DS called to remind me that “those” people were not rejecting me, but were rejecting the one I proclaim, Jesus Christ the Lord and Savior. His words would be long remembered: “Hold true to the truth that holds you!” Thank you Jimmy Jones!

That day and those times came back to me as I recently read in GUIDEPOST words from Korie Robertson of Duck Dynasty fame: “You have to believe in what you’re doing and keep your faith in who you are.”

It is great to be accepted. It is difficult to be rejected. We need to keep it ever before us that we are in this thing for the long haul. It is harvest work and it is hard. To remember that those who accept us accept the Savior as well as his Holy Father should be a constant reminder less we become discouraged and think about giving up.

Wasn’t it Winston Churchill who was invited to give the commence address at one of our famous colleges. The students, faculty as well as family and friends waited anxiously for that voice and some earthmoving rhetoric from this orator. He stood, the hall became quiet and he spoke: “Never give up.” He paused and then said again, “Never give up.” A longer pause took place and then that magnificent voice spoke again, “Never… give… up!” And then he sat down.

Wise words for difficult times.

PRAYER:

May we never give up. Never throw in the towel. Never walk away.