Perseverance

My local church is going through a series on Philippians, and this week we discussed Philippians 3:12-21, where Paul talks about pressing on to reach the goal.  I'd like to point your attention to a blog about perseverance.  You can find it here.  I don't have much to add at this point, since you can really read all about it at that post.

Faithful in prayer

Daniel is a great example in persevering in the truth and holding fast to what you know to be the right thing to do.  Today, and this week, recall his faithfulness of prayer to God and, even with the threat of painful death.  I, for one, can be more active in conversing with God.  He clearly understood the importance of such an action, as he prayed even when the king made it against the law.  His example brings to life what Paul wrote in Romans 12:12 - Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Faith without deeds

Key verse
Jeremiah 10:6 - No one is like you, O Lord; you are great, and your name is mighty in power.


James 2:26 - As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

Jeremiah
One thing we can learn from Jeremiah is perseverance.  People are plotting to kill him so that they don't have to listen to his message from the Lord, and yet he still relies on God for safety and continues to speak.


James
I think what James is getting at here is not that you have to do good works in order to be saved, but that good works are a natural outcome of true salvation. If we truly believe in Christ, we should believe in what he taught, and follow through on his teachings.  Therefore, true faith cannot come without good works.