Word Up

Bible Reading: Romans 2:6-8

Never get tired of doing good. 2 Thessalonians 3:13

HAVE YOU EVER been talking to someone when the other person used a word you didn’t understand? You probably just nodded and pretended that you used that word every day, didn’t you? You also probably wished you could use big words to impress your friends and amaze your family, huh?

Well, wish no more. Here’s a quick list of words that ought to do the trick:

• osculation: more commonly known as the act of kissing (“Mom and Dad, will you please stop all that osculation?”)

• omphaloskepsis: meditating on your belly button (“I’m sorry, my sister can’t come to the phone right now because of her omphaloskepsis.”)

• flatulence: what happens when a person eats too many baked beans (“OK, who filled the car with all that flatulence?”)

• ogress: a female ogre (“My, aren’t we acting like an ogress this morning?”)

• behemoth: a really huge or powerful animal (“Wow, that team’s forward is a behemoth!”)

It ought to be fun to try to work those words into conversation this week, eh? Oh, by the way, here’s one more word:

• perseverance: to keep going or to keep doing something even when it’s hard or when you are tired (“I really admire your perseverance!”)

Of all the words we mentioned above, perseverance describes what’s most useful because it’s good to persevere in making right choices—even when making right choices is hard and even when you’re tired. That’s why Paul told the church at Thessalonica, “Never get tired of doing good” (2 Thessalonians 3:13). He wanted them to persevere, to keep going, to keep doing right no matter how hard it got because God “will give eternal life to those who persist in doing what is good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers” (Romans 2:7). When the going gets tough, the tough keep on going!

REFLECT: What does it mean to persevere? Have you persevered at making right choices, or have you given up? Do you feel like giving up when you get tired or when the going gets tough? How can you keep “doing what is good”? Do you think God can help you persevere? If so, how?

ACT: Try to use the word persevere in conversation at least once today.

PRAY: “Father, it’s not always easy to keep doing what is good. But please help me to persevere even when I’m tired or feel like giving up.”