Weekly challenge to focus on and practice LOVE through perseverance. 

Sunday- God’s perseverance toward us

Luke 19:9-10 ⁹ Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. ¹⁰ For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Challenge: Jesus came to seek and save the lost.  He does not give up on us but his love perseveres.  When others might give up on us, Jesus doesn’t.  Many had over looked Zacchaeus likely because he was a tax collector.  Jesus noticed him and loved him.  How have you seen God’s love persevering in your life?  How have you responded?  Thank God for his continuing love. 

Monday – Our perseverance toward God

James 1:12  Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

Challenge: Our persevering love for God gets us through difficult times.  List some of the difficult times that you have experienced.  How has your love for God helped you through those times?  

Tuesday- Our perseverance toward our Family

Deuteronomy 11:19-21  ¹⁹ Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. ²⁰ Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, ²¹ so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth.

Challenge: Just like God our father’s love for us perseveres, our love for our family is to persevere.  This passage shows that our love is to be constant and demonstrated in every area of life through teaching our family to follow God.  Take time to share your love with a family member and state to them that you will always love them and you want to encourage them to be close to God.

Wednesday- Our perseverance toward our Friends

Ephesians 6:18  And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

Challenge:  Paul encourages us to always pray for all the Lord’s people.  Show your love for your friends by praying for them.  Do you let your friends know that you are praying for them?  Demonstrate that your love perseveres by telling them that you are thinking about them and have been praying for them. 

Thursday- Our perseverance toward our Neighbor

1 Thessalonians 2:7-9  ⁷Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, ⁸ so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well. ⁹ Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you.

Challenge: Paul’s love for the Thessalonians persevered.  He shared his life with them.  He cared for them as a mother would care for her children and he worked day and night in order to not burden them.  How does your love for your neighbor persevere?  

Friday- Our perseverance toward our Enemies

1 Peter 2:17-19   Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.  ¹⁸ Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. ¹⁹ For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God.

Challenge: When treated harshly it is difficult to do what is right.  The love that we have for God should motivate us to persevere and do what is right to those that mistreat us.  Do you have someone that mistreats you?  Persevere in loving them by serving them and acting in a manner that brings glory to God. 

Saturday- Our perseverance toward the Lost

Matthew 28:18-20  ¹⁸ Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” 

Challenge: Our love for the lost is to persevere. When we become followers of Jesus our whole life is to be devoted to following him, telling others about him and demonstrating his persevering love.