Why we must hung on

All odds are looking dismal. They are telling you to surrender. They are demanding that you stifle your faith. They are dictating that you compromise what you believe in.

You can easily choose to stoop in capitulation. You can easily slay your own identity, integrity, position… You can easily behave like Esau who sold his birthright to Jacob when hunger pangs bit him.

But, wait. You cannot afford to give in to those forces of doom. You cannot afford to drop your gem. No. You cannot afford to exchange your birthright with a mouthful of lentils soup. You cannot trade your royalty with a crumb of bread. Can you?

Instead, you can emulate Peter. It is Peter who vehemently denied Jesus. It is to him that Jesus said, “get behind me satan.” Despite the plethora of setbacks he faced, his faith in Jesus remained rock-solid as his name insinuates.

It is also Peter to whom Jesus said, “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build My church, and the gates of hades shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18).

Peter, who in several occasions had flunked, was greatly empowered by these profound words. Furthermore, Jesus’s prayers precluded satan’s plan to devour him.

What an encouragement to Peter! He’s also empowering us today through the following scriptures.

“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.” ~1 Peter 2:9–10.

Child of God, it is Jesus Himself who chose you. It isn’t your pompous neighbour. It isn’t your disrespectful employer… No person was responsible for taking you out of the kingdom of darkness and bringing you into the kingdom of light. Jesus did. To him alone we always proclaim His praises. Amen!

“You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.” ~John 15:16

Friend, Jesus chose and appointed you to be a priest; a king. You belong to the royal family. You’re a special child of God. You belong to the kingdom of light. You’re blessed!

No matter what happens, big or small, you’re not going to surrender. You’re not going to quit. Your salvation is too valuable to be exchanged with anything. You’re precious.

And like Peter you can declare with me,

“Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also, we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. ~John 6:68–69

Hang on. Keep the faith.

Jesus loves you!

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