It’s Friday…Be Tenacious

High in the Andes Mountains, a plant known as the puya raimondii – or the Queen of the Andes – grows to more than 30 feet and can live well over 100 years. But the plant only flowers once, and only then at the end of its life. At some point between 80 to 150 years of age in the wild, its massive spikes flower into a glorious display, and then the plant dies. In other words, it takes a really long time for anyone to see its stunning beauty.

Some investments are like that, aren’t they? They show little or no growth for years, only to offer unexpected returns at an opportune time. That isn’t always the case in the Kingdom of God; sometimes as followers of Jesus, our investments of time, talent, and resources bear physical fruit quickly. But often they don’t. As with slow-flowering plants or slow-growth investments, only patient endurance allows us to see the end and reap the reward.

“Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourself fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:58)

Because this is a common dynamic in the Kingdom of God, we need to be extremely patient and persistent in our eternal investments. Our prayers may not show many results for a while, but they are still accomplishing much. Our work may not seem productive at the moment, but it will nevertheless produce much. Our attitudes may not seem to rub off on those around us, but they eventually will. Our love may not appear to make a difference, but as an expression of God’s heart, it certainly will. In itself, time is not always a significant factor in determining the value of a Kingdom investment.

As children and citizens of God’s Kingdom we must Be Tenacious. We must be willing to hang on to a promise for decades, pray over a problem with persistence, and keep sowing seeds of God’s purposes and resources whether we see results or not, knowing we will eventually bear fruit. We will! After all, we are His, and He is the Source of Life. How could we not, right? Everything He touches will eventually flourish, including you, including me. Let’s hang in there. The best is yet to come!

Have a worthwhile weekend. Make it better by worshiping The Lord with those who have been recipients of His faithfulness in every area of their lives, and who keep coming back to the same well because they are convinced it will never grow dry.

All For Jesus – Nothing More, Nothing Less, Nothing Else.

“He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, The King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see, to Him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.” (1 Timothy 6:15b-16)