(The following is the Broadcaster article I submitted in 2014; may the truth of
persevering love compel us to never, ever give up on the power of Christ's reconciliation
in and through us all!)
I'm not sure if I have ever shared this story with you or not, but I almost missed out on being a member of Chi Rho. In fact, I almost missed my four-year Chi Rho experience not once, but twice. Initially, after my audition, those members who asked me to sing and interviewed me knew that God had given me musical gifts; however, one member mentioned to me much later, "You know,
you almost didn't make the group." I was shocked, but I was also glad I was chosen to sing in the Chi Rho, the men's Christian acapella ensemble at Wake Forest University.
As I recall, my first two weeks in Chi Rho were less than enjoyable. I found myself struggling to get used to this new-found brotherhood, attempting to learn and sing while experiencing each person's unique and (at times) quirky behaviors. After a few rehearsals, I just didn't know if I wanted to fit in with these guys. I don't know if my motives were selfish or if I felt that I could best use my time elsewhere, but I did contemplate quitting early in my time with Chi Rho. I never mentioned these thoughts to any of the guys in the group, but I felt this acapella thing was not "what I had signed up for."
Looking back I can easily see the gargantuan mistake it would have been for me to leave the group. Despite the unusual mixture of people, personality quirks and all, we all had something in common: we loved Jesus and we wanted to sing about him! It was this passion that kept me going and, before long, I realized that I was just as quirky and strange as the rest of the bunch! The more I spent time with them the more I realized that this was God’s ministry, and these guys were not only my friends but also my brothers in the struggle to carry the Gospel musically everywhere. It was God’s grace in helping me persevere, and it was God’s blessing that allowed me to remain committed to my decision to sing with Chi Rho. After all, my uneasy feelings were less about God and more about me; yet, God was demonstrating to me that this spot I filled in Chi Rho was more about God's call on my life and not about my personal preferences as a Wake Forest freshman. I sure had a lot to learn but by God's grace I stuck it out with Chi Rho and sang all over NC, the southeast in general, California and even in the White House. I was voted to direct the group my senior year at Wake and grew to love my Chi Rho family more than I ever realized; looking back, I am so very grateful God prodded me to hold on, to stay the course and…to persevere.
In 1 Cor. 13 (some call this "the love chapter") Paul is exhorting the Corinthian Christians to understand fully the vital importance of love in the ministry of the church. Love must be patient and kind. Love must believe all things and hope all things. Love must be trusting.
...keeps going and going and going. It keeps persevering.
Often, in biblical study, we associate persevering with trials. James tells us: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." And isn't the truth in this verse so appropriate for us all? What is love if not tested? What is love if not able to endure? What is love if not faced with many trials? Don't we appreciate and value the love that we have for one another when we walk with people through difficult moments in their life journeys? Don't we also long for others to love us during the tough times, helping us keep our eyes fixed on the goal of our perseverance?
Love is so beautiful because love persists; it never gives up. Love boundlessly pushes through the storm so that it might reach the goal of making it through. Love never ceases to think only of others; love never stops forgetting the wrongs done by others. Love is so special in that it has amnesia about the offenses of others. Love won't stop until it conquers the selfish, the sin-sick, the abandoned, the abused, the wronged, and the rejected. Love also doesn't stop there...it seeks to pull down pride, eliminate bitterness, and destroy resentment. Love keeps going until people are changed from dark into light. Love is not content with people remaining as they are; love's desire is for love to grow and grow and grow and grow until there is no trace of self but only Love...and that Love is found only in the person of Jesus Christ.
When I wanted "out" of Chi Rho, the Spirit within me wanted to stay "in." The Spirit guided me, in all truth, to pursue the heart of the singing brotherhood, to listen to the foundation of its Truth (found in Christ), and to persist in learning to love others AND myself in the process.
Now here’s the best part: I was able to persevere because the love of God in Christ Jesus persevered in me.
(Read that line above again.)
The blessing we have waiting for us is that those who persevere, in/for/with/by the love of Christ, are transported into a deeper level of relationship with our Heavenly Father. And when we go through trials of many kinds (whether they are minimally important to us or not) God is working on our spiritual maturity. After all, isn't that what James tells us? Perseverance must finish its work so that your faith, and my faith, may be complete, that we may have all we need to be God's light in the world. The love that is in us, the Jesus-love that rages on the inside of us, longs to mature and grow our faith. So love needs trials and testing to grow stronger in each of us. And while we are persisting, while we are persevering, our faith become more unshakable and more potent than the day before. This is God's Holy Spirit working out his salvation in us; this is God's Holy Spirit sanctifying us and setting us apart to show the world that Christ is Lord above all, in all and through all!
I am so glad that God kept me in Chi Rho. It was worth every minute of my rehearsal time as well as every minute of my investment in my spiritual brothers. The love of God taught me to persevere and give my talents and gifts to him in our acapella ministry.
Love does more than make us feel good; love holds onto us and never lets us go.
Love always perseveres.
As we consider February 14th and enjoy all of the Valentine's cards, special events and candy, may we be challenged to remember that the Love inside us, Jesus Christ, calls us to persevere in that same Love. We don't have to try harder and promise to make it happen; the Promise that made it happen on Calvary will work Love within us: "...for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose" (Phil. 2:13).
After all, didn't that baby boy born in Bethlehem long ago live out his Father's persevering love for thirty-three years? He was rejected by his own people and yet he persevered. He was tested and tried by the religious elite and yet he persevered. He was ridiculed, flogged, spat upon and crucified...and yet he persevered...for you...and me.
And now Jesus, sitting at the right hand of God perseveres through each one of us. This love must compel us to never give up on each other and to never give up on ourselves! We must continue to press on to reach the high calling of Christ day by day. We must encourage one another to live our days in humble sacrifice. For when we offer ourselves as living sacrifices then we are holy and acceptable to God.
And now the persevering love of God in Jesus Christ is building our faith, block by block, on the foundational truth that "Jesus is LORD." A choice to love, no matter what, always results in fruit. That fruit in turn blesses the Kingdom of God and its inhabitants. May we love without limits while thinking less of ourselves and more about God's Son and his Kingdom agenda.
God persevered in Christ Jesus, chasing us all the way to Calvary. Thanks be to God!
"Oh God, cleanse us with your persistent love, and teach us to persevere by leaning on the patient, powerful arms of Love himself, Your Son, Jesus Christ. Help us to embrace the true Love that is persevering and above all, never fails."
Amen.
Desiring for God to create in me a persevering love,
><> Pastor Will <><
John 3:30