“And so, after he (Abraham) had patiently endured he obtained the promise.” Hebrews 6:15

Three essential learnings in life are to 1) learn obedience, 2) learn patience, and 3) learn to endure – to keep on keeping on in view of the promise, purpose, or plan. It is imperative to make the disciplined investment in pursuit of obtaining the promises of God as we seek to engage in Christian service to humankind.

As we pursue our purpose in Christ we are encouraged time and again of God’s promise to Abraham and for us as well.  God said, “Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you. And so, after he (Abraham) had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.” Abraham was tried; he waited patiently upon the Lord; he learned obedience; he patiently endured in passionate pursuit of the promise of God. Through it all, he was richly rewarded.

In our passionate pursuit of purpose in Christ, we must first accept the promises of God and patiently endure to obtain. I have spent much of my life in rural Indiana.  During elementary and high school I spent a lot of time helping area farmers to plant corn, bale hay, and bale straw.  I learned the principle of sowing and reaping or seed – time – harvest.  We can plant and water, but God will grow the increase (I Corinthians 3:6).  Therefore, we must also wait upon the Lord and patiently endure to enjoy the harvest.

Many of us have heard we must pay the price.  We pay the price for what the disciplined investment will make of us. The Christian walk is a test. We must patiently endure to turn that test into a testimony.  Our goal is to make the sacrifice, learn obedience, and accomplish the purpose set before us in Christian service to humankind. Let’s commit to the purpose, make the sacrifice, patiently endure, and obtain the promise. Above all, seek to be holy, for the Lord is holy (I Peter 1:16).