Topic: Perseverance Has A Reward Text: John 5:1 – 9 

Introduction: “There is no royal road to anything; one thing at a time, all things in succession.  That which grows fast withers as rapidly; that which grows slowly endures” so says J.G. Holland. This saying brings me to the topic I have chosen to speak on. The theme of 3rd Sunday after Epiphany in the Church Year calendar of Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion is ‘The Presence of God.’ However, I have chosen to speak on the topic: ‘Perseverance Has A Reward.’ Indeed there is a reward for whatever we do whether good or bad. For whatsoever we do either in open or secret, there is a reward. Therefore we must be careful.

Development: The story in our text is well known to us. We have severally heard different preachers speak on this text. However, I want to look at it from another angle: Perseverance and its reward. This man was sick for 38years. We were not told if he spent the 38 years beside the pool of Bethesda. There are some characteristics in this story I want us to consider.

1. He was sick of an infirmity not mentioned. It may be palsy, for he was able to see the turning of the sea and others go in before him. If he were blind, he wouldn’t have seen the things he described while talking with Jesus. You may have an infirmity without name but that is not a hindrance to Jesus healing you. Doctors might have told you that your illness cannot be described and you are now worried. That sickness that has no name cannot stop you from receiving your healing from God.

2. It has lasted for 38 years. 38 years is not just 38 days. This is a long period. This prolonged illness has indeed taken a toll on this man as per friends and family members. It may have resulted in people deserting him. Your case may not have lasted for as much as 38 years. May be yours has lasted for 3 years, 5 years or more or even less. God can still do something for you. The numbers of years or months you have been on the sick bed or in that problem is not a determining factor to your healing. When God decides, He will do it. All you need is to keep believing Him and persevering.    

3. He had no helper – No family members or friends. This man in emotion laden voice told Jesus that he has no helper. May be the long period he has been on that sick bed led to his people to have forsaken him. May be they have lost all hope of his getting well and thus they dumped him by the pool of Bethesda perhaps one day relieve and help might come his way. However despite all these, this may did not give up or deicide to commit suicide rather he kept believing that someday help will come. You may have been deserted by friends, your family members would have given up on you because you are sick, things are not going on well with you, you are married and not a child to show for it after many years, etc. Never mind, God is able to bring you out of that sick bed or that problem and those who deserted you will come back to rejoice with you.

4. He was thus handicapped. The situation of this man as he described his case is pathetic. The summary of it all is that he is handicapped and cannot do anything for himself. However, God saw the sincerity of this man and came his way. Are you handicapped and has no one to help or assist you? I announce to you that you will also be remembered as this man was remembered by Jesus.

When Jesus came to the scene, He met him and asked if he wanted to be healed and his answer was in v7: “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.” Jamieson Fausset-Brown commented on this v7 saying “Instead of saying he wished to be cured, he just tells with piteous simplicity how fruitless had been all his efforts to obtain it, and how helpless and all but hopeless he was. Yet not quite. For here he is at the pool, waiting on. It seemed of no use; nay, only tantalizing.” Continuing, he said, “Yet he will not go away. He may get nothing by staying, he may drop into his grave ere he gets into the pool; but by going from the appointed, divine way of healing, he can get nothing. Wait therefore he will, wait he does, and when Christ comes to heal him, lo! He is waiting for his turn. But he held on, and his perseverance was rewarded with a glorious cure. Probably some rays of hope darted into his heart as he told his tale before those Eyes whose glance measured his whole case. But the word of command consummates his preparation to receive the cure, and instantaneously works it.”

Many of us act usually like this man. When we are in the presence of God, we keep saying piteous things instead of tabling our problems before God. Trying to been seen as helpless and hopeless to attract mercies do not move God. That can move man but not God.  Many will rather complain than pray. This was what this man acted. Despite the piteous and not straight forward answer he gave, God in His compassion and mercies granted him healing. All his waiting was not in vain. At last the years he stayed there paid off for him.

In life we face problems. Life usually present it curve on our way. However it is dishearthening to note that many of us today do not know anything about perseverance. We do not want to persevere for anything. Paul noted in Romans Chapter 5 that there are benefits in perseverance. He said “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us” – Romans 5:1 – 5.

Also Apostle Peter noted that “But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” This shows the importance of perseverance in our Christian race.

We are in Jet Age when people want things done immediately and we use such faith in wanting all things done for us immediately we approach God. Today we manifest all form of vices because we are impatient and cannot persevere. Some of those vices and ills are exam malpractice, broken marriages, rushing into marriage because we feel time is running out on us, insubordinate to authority at home, school, churches and offices, proliferation of churches, divisions here and there as a result of unwillingness to persevere, etc. It is said that a patient dog eats the fattest bone. Yes the Bible says in Mt 21:22: “And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive”; this does not mean that God will arbitrarily grant us all we ask. He may delay it for a purpose and at the end it will be more glorious. Check the story of Elizabeth who gave birth to the greatest man ever born on earth and Manoah and his wife who gave birth to the strongest man ever lived, Syro-Phoenician woman despite all we may call ‘insult’ heaped on her by Jesus did not want to leave because she knew that Jesus is the only one that has the answer to her problem. There are many other cases. If you know that Jesus is the only one that has answer to that your problem of sickness, failure in business, no child after years of marriage, no intending spouse, failure in examinations, etc, you should learn to trust Him and keep persevering.

Conclusion: God loves us no doubt about that. However, we must learn to persevere till the end. We should not give to God half hearted commitment. It was Surgeon who said it all- ”You have received Christ; persevere in receiving him.  You have come to trust him; keep on trusting him.  You hang about his neck as a poor, helpless sinner; remain hanging there.  Abide in him.” As we continue trusting Him, hanging on Him and believing in Him, we will never loose.  

We had a priest from Puerto Rico for several years.  It was not until then that my family began to celebrate Three Kings Day.  What is it?  It’s another reason to celebrate and enjoy the holiday season!

Three Kings Day (or “El Día de los Reyes Magos”) is celebrated on January 6.  It is also known by many as Epiphany.  This is the day that Catholics celebrate The Three Wise Men delivering gifts of frankincense, myrrh and gold to the baby Jesus.

 This is the last marker of the holiday celebration of Christmas and it is the reason that Christmas trees are often left up until this day.

Many families celebrate by enjoying a baked good called “Rosca de Reyes”, doughnut-shaped pastry that has a hidden plastic baby Jesus. The person that finds the baby Jesus is supposed to have extra blessing for the new year.

In some Latino countries there are parades to celebrate the day and they feature live camels and children with plastic crowns.

A big hit with my own children is the practice of leaving a shoe with some treat for the camels of the wise men to have as they pass through.  In exchange the children are left a small treat (candy or small toy) in their shoe. A pinata is a fun activity as well.

My favorite thing is having delicious food and drink for the evening meal.  We usually have Authentic tamales (in corn husk) and various other Mexican themed favorites.

Most of all it is a great way to keep holding on to the holiday season and to enjoy the reason we celebrate Christmas a little longer.

Image via Wikipedia | If You Have Always Wanted to be Here then This is the Perfect Time – Now!

Everyone wants to succeed. We all want to make a difference and be respected in our careers. But how come some truly shine while others fall by the wayside. What is the silver bullet to career success? Well it could be that you have simply been making a living not a life.

A Living vs A Life

“Life is what happens when we are not making plans,” is a great aphorism in this instance. We think that our daily plans are what we are. Many of us strive to plan a future for themselves and struggle to make a living. Many get frustrated when they see friends careers skyrocket whilst they seem to languish. One good reason could be you have been looking in the wrong place.

Change Your View About Your Life and Blossom

When you look at successful people they seem to have it all with little effort. They work as hard as anyone and that work pays off in a million ways. What is the trick?

1. People who succeed make their live exactly what they want it to be. They say, “I want to be a successful poet.” And they succeed making lots of money from their work. Everyone may doubt them. “Poets never get paid,” or, “That’s impossible.” Yet, surprisingly, there are some exceptionally rich poets who have published many books and are in high demand. Stick with something  you are willing to sacrifice everything for, no matter how insignificant, and create the perfect life.

2. Desire more. People simply ask for less. They ask for less work, less pay and less experience. Completely unaware they go through life telling themselves, “I’m not good enough.” This is subconscious and often we aren’t awake enough to spot it. Ask yourself in any situation, “What do I want from this?” If someone offers you an outlandish proposition be spontaneous and take it – it could lead you somewhere fantastic.

3. Wake up. Simple awareness of what you are saying and doing will reveal that in fact you often talk yourself out of things proffering thin excuses such as, “I’m too old,” and, “I can’t afford it.” If you truly craved the life you desire nothing would hold you back!

End

This article is a challenge to anyone who is wondering how to make the most out of life. I dare you to start creating a LIFE for yourself instead of simply functioning for a LIVING.

Helpful Hints

a. Try and see yourself in the ideal situation. I have see myself on a beautiful South Sea beach sipping a cocktail. This will come to pass.

b. Take radical turns. Change jobs, travel overseas and do that thing you’ve been wanting to do for ages but have always been delaying.

c. Believe it. In your heart of hearts believe it. Create affirmations such as, “I am living in the perfect situation with all my dreams coming true; I believe this to be true.”

Good Luck Create that Life!

www.jamesdevere.com

By the time she came back to the road, the magi had vanished from sight, and she never managed to catch up with them. When she came to Bethlehem, the star was not to be seen and she couldn’t find the child she was looking for. Since then, she visits children all over the world on her day, entering the houses by way of the chimneys. She puts gifts into the stockings of the good children, but into those of bad children she puts nothing but coal. The coal she leaves in the stockings of bad children is not real coal, but a black candy.

Image source

If the last part of the story reminds you of St. Nicolas, then that is intentional. Until quite recently, the South of Switzerland and Italy had their gifts orgies on January 6th, and not on Christmas. But Befana is actually much older than Christianity, even though she is referred to as Saint Befana. In all probability, she took her name from the word Epiphany, but is in reality the Sabine Goddess Strenia. Strenia and the God Janus were the ones responsible for the exchanging of gifts in pre-Christian Rome on New Year.

Image source

As Saint Befana wandered north over the century, she took on some Celtic characteristics which account for her being represented as a witch or old woman. The Celtic old year was represented as an old woman, whereas the New Year was a young girl. As a witch obviously, she rides a broom, with which she cleans up in the house after descending through the chimney. Arriving in the lands of the Langobards, the Allemannic speaking tribe in Northern Italy and the South of Switzerland, she also took on some characteristics from Berchta, a Germanic nature goddess.

Image source

During the Fascist government of Mussolini, the Befana was misappropriated by their ideology as a truly Roman tradition, but funnily enough in her guise of the witch. They even went to the trouble of changing the traditional Befana song which goes: The Befana comes by night / in her rotten shoes / in her patched skirt / long live the Befana. The fascist ideologists supplanted the third line with: in her Roman skirt. I find it a bit troubling that this fascist verse is cited as the original in Wikipedia.

Image source

Traditionally in Brissago, Switzerland, the Nodada della Befana (swimming in honour of Befana) is held on January 5th in the Lago Maggiore. With the air temperature usually over 0 Celsius, and the water at a sizzling 6 Celsius, you need to be hardy to venture it. The organisers, by the way, have a team of medics there who’ll check your health status before you attempt the plunge.

Related article

When Santa Claus Travelled to Switzerland

It’s come to my attention recently (from a variety of sources, including my own subconscious actually), that I tend to plan so intensely for the things in my life that I forget to live.  I forget to actually “do”.

As the old saying goes: “No plan is worth the paper it is written on, unless it starts you doing something.”  –  Mine tend to START me doing something, but don’t end up allowing me to finish, because they get too in depth and intense.  That, or I can’t stop myself from constantly improving the plan.  Well, guess what “me”… improving the quality of the plan-on-paper, doesn’t do a damn thing to improve the quality of the person it’s meant for!

This isn’t just meant for me… it goes for everyone, I believe.  But, I intend to follow this wonderful advice.  It’s actually a quote from my idol, Bruce Lee:

“Knowing is not enough, we must apply.  Willing is not enough, we must do.”

It is so true, is it not?!  Way to go Bruce… It’s too bad the rest of the world [myself included, of course] is too wrapped up in the idea of perfection to realize that nothing gets done in that frame of mind.

We should be focused on Effectiveness and Efficiency instead of this flawed idea of “perfection” that we all hold so dear.

From here on out, I vow not to “try” anymore… but simply to “do” and to “be” the things that I want to do and be.  No one achieved anything simply by thinking and wishing… that may have been where it started, but eventually they had to do something about those thoughts and ideas.

Good luck on your personal journey through this life.

What about the children out there that cannot get what my kids have? What about the children in lower income families that can’t afford to put money away for college? What about the children that don’t have supportive parents and grandparents that will help them to achieve their goals in life?

I never really thought about this until recently. My Toastmaster mentor and I were talking one day and he told me about this volunteer program called PAYBAC. This stands for Professionals and Youth Building a Commitment. The purpose of this program is to motivate the youth to stay in school. They will hopefully continue their education and achieve meaningful employment and enjoy a productive life.

So what does this mean to me? I am self-centered and to me it meant that I would get to talk and give all my great knowledge to these kids who need help. I can do something good and it benefits me as well because I get to practice my speaking skills. I get to prove how great I am. I have a bit of an ego. I told you I am self-centered.

I went to my first endeavor on January 29th to a middle school and I was ready. I went to sign in and talked to some other volunteers who were also going to speak. I ate the breakfast that they served. I drank some apple juice and then got escorted to one of the classrooms. I walked in and I felt pretty confident. The kids were all working on individual projects. The substitute teacher thought I was just there to observe. I told him I was supposed to speak. He yelled for the kids to put their work away and to pay attention and listen to me. He kept reminding them to behave. I never saw them misbehave but maybe I am not there enough to see it. They were very quiet and listened to me.

So I talked to them about my education and how important it is to continue their education and the benefits of getting a better education and their futures. I tried to focus on the kids that really seemed to be listening. I also tried to bring in the kids that seemed like they didn’t want to be there. I used specific examples, they asked questions and I answered and I made it through. I did it! I made the difference. After that speech, all those kids were going to finish high school and go to college. I was so proud.

I signed up for 4 more of these speeches and I was going to make the difference in everyone’s life for I am the queen of speaking to kids. I am about he same size as them and I fit right in. Why wouldn’t they listen to me?

My second endeavor was on February 26th in another school where I also spoke to middle school children. I went in, ate the breakfast (which was even better), drank their apple juice and was escorted again to a classroom. (Apparently I like apple juice). This time the teacher was waiting for me. It was an all female class and a male teacher. I started speaking to them about education and their future just as I did before and I spoke for about 15 minutes. I had their attention and I was so afraid that I would lose them I stopped and asked if there were any questions. When no one answered I put my coat on and the teacher said “Is that all you are going to speak for? 15 minutes?” I said “I am not sure what else to say.” So I asked the girls what they were working on. “Volcanoes and Rocks” they told me. I’m an Accountant – where was I going to go with that?

I asked them what subjects they liked. I heard Science, English and History. I had their attention again so I took off my jacket and stayed awhile longer. I told them about different careers they could have with those subjects. Chemist, Biologist, Journalist, Archeologist. I also spoke about math because that was my favorite subject. I told them that they need balance in their lives. I balance my Accounting career with drawing, painting, cooking, singing, dancing and other creative outlets. I spoke to them about having emotional balance since they are all female and will have emotional turmoil because of it. Women’s brains are doing 10 different things at once so balance of family and career and other environmental issues is very important.

At that point, I asked if there were any more questions. One girl asked me if I sang well. I told her I could hold my own so they asked me to sing for them. So I did and I was nervous. These are just kids, why was I nervous? I wanted them to like me and listen. I wanted to sing something they liked. They gave me songs but I didn’t know them so I sang Maroon 5 Wake Up Call. They liked it. Then they sang for me. At that point, something had changed. This wasn’t about me at all. This was about them. I wanted them to succeed and learn. I connected with them. I WAS “THEM” in my youth. I may have had money and support but I was also naïve and oblivious to the world outside of mine. I wanted these girls to go on and live prosperous lives, each and every one of them because they are each special. Each one became an individual that could do something great. They became people and they became my heroes. They are the future of my world and my children’s worlds.

After a few more questions, one girl raised her hand and said “What do you do if you are having problems at home and problems at school?” I realized then that I was giving them hope. I was the adult showing them how they can succeed. I told her to do the best she could with what she had and to keep pushing forward and doing what was good for her and what was going to make her happy. I told her that she will turn 18 and get to make her choices and to hold in there and things will get better. I told them all to make good choices or at least the best choices they could. My heart was breaking and my soul was filled with love and compassion.

When I walked out the door, the teacher asked me where I worked. He told me he wanted to call my boss and tell him what I great job I did. He also said he would ask for me specifically the next time they had a PAYBAC speaker. I told him, thanked him and left to go fill out my survey and go back to work. As I was driving to the office I realized that whether he called or not didn’t matter. I felt good from my head down to my toes.

My thoughts were changing and my insights were getting better.

It is about them. The children. Our future. Pass it on and PAYBAC.