Verse of the Day

Both passages below have appeared at various times over the weekend. It occurred to me that one leads to the other and back again. "Endurance" (perseverance in some translations) is my word for this year, from the Hebrews passage. Last year it was "focus," also implied in Hebrews 12:2. (Do you sense a pattern here?)

Consider it all joy . . . when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2–4)

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1–2)