striking is the statement
that "He set His face steadfastly to go to Jerusalem"! Whether in
suffering or in service, our Lord "endured as seeing Him who is
invisible"; and having endured to the end, He became our Saviour.

But "the patience of Christ" is also the endurance which comes from Him.
He is not only our pattern, but also our power, since He enables us to
endure with a like endurance to His own. As the Apostle says elsewhere: "I
have power for all things in Him who is empowering me." To have a pattern
without the power to realise it, to have our Lord's example without His
efficacy and energy, would be of little practical use except to discourage
and to mock us; but He who sets the standard supplies the strength, and
our hearts are thus enabled to enter into and abide in the endurance of
Christ.

The need of patient endurance is obvious. Those early Christians of
Thessalonica were soon put to the test. A few days and their new-born
experiences were severely proved. Persecution, ostracism, suffering, and,
it may be, death put a real strain upon their Christian profession; yet
they endured, and the Apostle's prayer was answered; for we know with
what joy he received tidings of their endurance and continuance (ch. i.
4). The same endurance is needed to-day, though the circumstances are very
different. Sin is still powerful, and trials, suffering, sorrow and death
are found on every hand. Many things would tempt us from our allegiance
and continuance. Like the Psalmist, we see the wicked prospering, and we
are ready to burst out with the faithless cry: "I have cleansed my heart
in vain, and washed my hands in innocency." Or we have been toiling in the
vineyard for long without seeing any fruit, and like the prophet, we are
tempted to cry: "I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for
nought." Then we hear the voice of the Apostle reminding us of "the love
of God" and "the patience of Christ."

The secret of patience is love. If only we live in the love of God we
shall thereby find the grace of patience. The union of love and patience
was exemplified in our Lord's earthly life. He kept His Father's
commandments and abode in His love, and if only we will continue in His
love we shall thereby be enabled to keep His commandments, and endure as
He endured.

2. THE GUIDE.

"_The Lord direct your hearts._" We need direction. Sin has blinded us,
and kept us from knowing the way home into the love of God, an