Pressing by David Jeremiah

Pressing    Tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Romans 5:3-4    Recently a student was asked to give a talk at his church, and he spoke of the importance of perseverance, but he didn’t know how to correctly pronounce that word. Throughout his talk, he kept talking about presseverance. His listeners smiled and nodded in agreement because they fully understood that perseverance really is press-everance. It’s the quality of pressing forward whatever comes.

Recommended Reading: Romans 5:1-5

We demonstrate our integrity when we stick with our commitments without wavering, even when grueling times arrive. The apostle Paul emphasized this quality over and over. He told the Romans that the quality of perseverance created hopeful hearts (Romans 5:3-4). He told the Corinthians about his own perseverance as he labored among them and faced great opposition (2 Corinthians 12:12). He told the Ephesians to be “watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints” (Ephesians 6:18). And he reminded Timothy, “But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance” (2 Timothy 3:10). Let’s be true to our commitments to God and others as we “press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14). Whenever God sends a trial with one hand, He gives grace with the other. J. Sidlow Baxter