By Gregg Woodall
In the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, perceived in the books the number of years that, according to the word of the LORD to Jeremiah the prophet, must pass before the end of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years (Daniel 9:2, ESV).
God’s people suffered for seventy years away from the comforts of home and their usual routines, yet through endurance they emerged faithful to the Lord. We have yet to suffer even seventy weeks of adversity in our present distress.
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it (1 Corinthians 10:13, ESV).
We have all had to deal with setbacks during this pandemic, but God will provide a way to get through and endure whatever hardship we may face in serving Him.
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things (1 Corinthians 13:7, ESV).
Our love for God and each other compels us to endure all things in order that we may serve God and each other.
Therefore, we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring (2 Thessalonians 1:4, ESV).
The elders are keenly aware of the difficulties that have afflicted many of us in striving to continue as God’s shining light in our community and we are very thankful and appreciative of your endurance.
You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra–which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me (2 Timothy 3:10-11, ESV).
Paul indeed suffered great persecution in serving the Lord and yet through it all he never wavered in his faithful service, even able to keep singing while in prison and in bonds. Surely, we can endure a little longer and persevere through these minor afflictions to continue serving God faithfully with the saints meeting at Karns.