Seeking to Endure the Challenges of Faith because Jesus Endured the Cross for Me

As I write this week’s devotion I am on a plane in New Orleans waiting to fly back to Alaska. I have been here with Kathy and Mary working as “Ambassadors” at the 2025 LCMS Youth Gathering, entitled “Endure.” We are full of God’s Spirit, and WEARY of body.

When we flew from Anchorage Monday night-Tuesday, July 15, we missed that night of sleep. In addition, I’m not sure that we slept in any morning that we were in New Orleans. Most nights we had less than 6 hours of sleep, as we attended training, Mass Events, and as we worked our assignments with the Gathering. But, we were serving our Lord and the youth and other participants of this event. It was a worthwhile sacrifice to lose a little sleep..

Every night when we took off our shoes it was a great relief! My Garmin watch says I averaged 14,452 steps a day. We walked from our hotel to the Convention Center. We also hoofed it a little over a mile to the Super Dome, and then we walked back. Before training started, I also walked to the WWII Museum, and Kathy and Mary walked to Café’ du Monde. We put in MANY more steps than we normally do. But, we were serving our Lord and the youth and other participants of this event. It was a worthwhile sacrifice to deal with tired feet.

Unfortunately, while we were in New Orleans the sockeye salmon arrived in great numbers on the Kenai Peninsula. I had tried to dip net earlier before we left, but the run had not yet peaked. I have friends who call the third week in July, ‘Holy Week.’ As a man who truly enjoys fishing, I share those sentiments! But, when the recruitment e-mails messages arrived, offering the 3 of us the opportunity to work at this mass youth faith journey, I knew the dates. I sort of whined to Kathy. (Well, maybe not sort of.) “Why is this Gathering during this peak of fishing?” Mary and Kathy signed up right away. I waited till near the last day till I applied. Nevertheless, we were serving our Lord and the youth and other participants of this event. It was a worthwhile sacrifice to miss fishing. But I had to think really hard!

To top it all off, this is a YOUTH Gathering, and I am 72 years old, an ‘old . . . er man.’ My grand-children tell me I AM old. I am pretty healthy and still feel full of life and faith. However, I may not have quite the energy I once did. I have wondered if the planners of this event will someday say, “He’s TOO old!” But, they did still invite us. And, after all, we were serving our Lord and the youth and other participants of this event. It was a worthwhile effort, even for an old-er man!

So, as I return from 10 days of hectic schedule, little sleep, and tired feet, I ask myself, “Would I serve again?” Before I answer, let me share with you the theme verses of the 2025 LCMS Youth Gathering from Hebrews 12:1-3. “1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.”

Maybe you can see why the Gathering was entitled “Endure." God calls us in His Word to “run with endurance the race that is set before us.” Anytime we face some worthwhile task there are challenges. To continue working toward the goal takes endurance, perseverance, and sacrifice. This is true for family, for work projects, for church functions, and even some recreational pursuits. There are always opportunities to grow “weary and fainthearted.”

However, at the 2025 LCMS Youth Gathering we were reminded that Christ endured the cross . . . for us! Jesus endured shame and hostility, suffering and death, so that He might win for us eternal love, grace, forgiveness, and life in heaven. Remembering what Christ endured for us, FOR ME, made a difference this year in how I answered when I was called to serve. I pray that the great sacrifice of Jesus will direct all my efforts in my life. I pray that the great sacrifice of Jesus will direct my answer when the next gathering is held in San Antonio in 2028.

What challenges are you facing? Does the loving sacrifice of Jesus help you to face those challenges, help you to endure?

“1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross.”