Building up endurance for the race for sexual purity
Training is so dependent upon our confidence in our trainers. They encourage us, enthuse us, guide us and keep us running. We will note that when we are not doing well keeping pure lives, it indicates that we have stopped working with our trainers.
Why is it that these three trainers, Faith, Hope and Love, are so effective? It is because God generates this in our needy hearts. Notice again in the Old Testament and New Testament again how God is busy helping us.
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Jesus Christ used this quote to refer to Himself (cf. Luke 4) not only because He was able and willing to help but because He was going to bring definite help to the poor and downtrodden. He set the captives free.
Our greatest hope of endurance is not our strength but our weakness. We just need to be careful to remember this fact. As the apostle said, "When I am weak in myself, then I am strong." Why? We become dependent on God's strength when we are weak. God helps those who are weak. They key is remembering to call upon Him and not to give up in what seems impossible situations. |
"Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christs sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong."
2 Corinthians 12:10 (NASB) |