We Count Them Blessed Who Endure

"My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord- that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful." (James 5:10,11)

"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with ENDURANCE the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him ENDURED the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who ENDURED such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. And you have forgotten the exhortation that speaks to you as to sons:

'My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; for whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.'

If you ENDURE chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons." (Hebrews 12:1-8)

If Job had continued to justify himself, he would have delayed (or cancelled) what the Lord intended. After Job's deliverance from "uttering what he did not understand" in the midst of the fiery trial, he said, "I have heard about You with the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You. Therefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.' (Job 42:3-6) Your eye clearly seeing Him - the end intended by the Lord!