What does it mean to endure in the Lord? "And they sent Barnabas to go as far as Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced and exhorted them all, with purpose of heart, to endure in the Lord" (Acts 11:22-23).
When the holy apostles, being in Jerusalem, heard that in Antioch not only Jews but also Gentiles had begun to receive faith in Jesus Christ, they sent Barnabas from among themselves to go as far as Antioch.
This was, one should suppose, to verify this desirable event. If it proved true, he was also to strengthen the believers.
Saint Barnabas came to Antioch and saw the grace of God, that is, the faith of Christ received and held by the Antiochians through God's grace, and he rejoiced.
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Saint Barnabas' joy was great, especially because, beyond expectation, the Gentiles too had newly received the faith of Christ. Yet it is also a great joy when faith long ago received is faithfully preserved.
There are obstacles to the new planting of the faith of Christ. There are also obstacles to preserving it in its original purity and power, though it can conquer both.
Therefore Saint Barnabas did not wholly give himself up to joy over the believers, but also cared for them. He exhorted them all, with purpose of heart, to endure in the Lord.
What does it mean to endure in the Lord? The thought most akin to endurance is the thought of calamities and sufferings. Therefore to endure in the Lord means to bear calamities and sufferings magnanimously for faith in the Lord.
Truly, our Lord commands this kind of endurance when He says to His followers: "Brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise up against parents and put them to death. And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved" (Mt 10:21-22).
Thus the holy martyrs endured in the Lord. But since the Lord promises salvation only to the one who endures to the end, and martyrdoms cease, this kind of endurance also ceases.
Therefore we must further inquire what it means to endure in the Lord when there are no calamities and sufferings testing endurance.
In the word of God we find that to endure the Lord sometimes means to pray diligently and without slackening until we have moved God to mercy and have been heard.
We see this in the Psalmist, who says, "I waited patiently for the Lord, and He inclined to me and heard my prayer" (Ps 39:1).
Moreover, courageous and steadfast people in the struggles of piety are generally called those who endure the Lord. This may be seen in the saying: "Those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles. They shall run and not grow weary" (Is 40:31).
All these kinds of pious endurance, or in one word, constancy in faith, Saint Barnabas enjoined upon the Antiochian Christians. He exhorted them to endure in the Lord, not merely from necessity or because circumstances required it, but with purpose of heart.
Even if persecutions producing martyrdom are not now raised against the followers of Christ, still now, as always, "through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22).
Therefore, if calamity and sorrow are sent upon you, and by careful examination of your conscience you recognize in this a punishment for your sins, endure in the Lord.
Say with the Psalmist: "Righteous are You, O Lord, and upright are Your judgments. It is good for me that You humbled me, that I might learn Your statutes" (Ps 118:137, 71).
But if you do not notice that the calamity befalling you was brought upon you by your own fault, then also endure in the Lord. Say with Job: "As it pleased the Lord, so it has come to pass. Blessed be the name of the Lord" (Job 1:21).
The grace of God teaches you to pray to God for deliverance from misfortunes and to ask His help in your needs. This is especially true of spiritual needs, which concern the salvation of your soul and your eternal blessedness.
In this holy exercise also, beware of inconstancy and impatience. The Lord commanded us "to pray and not lose heart" (Lk 18:1), that is, not to be burdened or wearied by prayer, but to remain in it without slackening.
Do you see the fruit of your prayer? Increase it with thanksgiving to God, Who satisfies your desire with good things (Ps 102:5).
Do you not receive what you ask? Acknowledge the imperfection of your prayer and continue it with new zeal. Consider that the all-good heavenly Father, if He does not visibly fulfill your desire, certainly cares invisibly for your good more than you can know or imagine.
Thus in prayer also endure in the Lord. Whatever pious struggle you undertake, and whatever virtue you begin to practice, do not change the good intention once accepted.
Even if obstacles stand before you, and even if success seems not to match your expectation, do not despair or become fainthearted. On the contrary, even if it seems that you have succeeded sufficiently in a good work and struggle, do not grow lazy or careless.
Recognize yourself as an unprofitable servant, even if you have done all that was commanded. For even in that last case you would have done only what was your duty (Lk 17:10), and therefore you would still have no right to remain idle.
Thus, in the difficulty of the struggle, hope in the Lord and endure in the Lord. In the success of the work, do not rely on yourself, and again endure in the Lord.
"And they sent Barnabas to go as far as Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and exhorted them all with purpose of heart to remain with the Lord" (Acts 11:22-23).
When the holy Apostles were in Jerusalem, they heard that in Antioch not only Jews, but also Gentiles had begun to receive faith in Jesus Christ. Then, as we should suppose, they wished to verify this desired event. If it proved true, they wished also to strengthen the believers. Therefore from among themselves "they sent Barnabas to go as far as Antioch."
I dare say that the Apostles have sent me also to this faithful city. If not by a word of command, then by the deed of their example. So this same Barnabas and Paul, on another occasion, did not require a new command from the Apostles. They resolved themselves to repeat the work of their mission. "Let us go again," they said, "and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are" (Acts 15:36).
Saint Barnabas came to Antioch "and saw the grace of God." That is, he saw the faith of Christ, received and kept by the Antiochians through the grace of God, and "he was glad." I also rejoice, seeing in this city the grace of God. That is, I see the faith of Christ received from the fathers and kept in agreement with the whole Orthodox Church.
The joy of Saint Barnabas was great, especially because, beyond expectation, Gentiles had newly received the faith of Christ. Yet it is also a great joy when faith long ago received is faithfully preserved. For as there are obstacles to the new planting of the faith of Christ, so there are obstacles to preserving it in its original purity and power. Nevertheless, it can conquer both.
Therefore Saint Barnabas did not wholly give himself over to joy for the believers. He also cared for them, and "exhorted them all with purpose of heart to remain with the Lord." I too desire to share this saving apostolic instruction with all who will not refuse to hear and receive my entreaty.
What does it mean to "remain with the Lord"? The thought most closely akin to endurance is the thought of calamities and sufferings. Therefore to remain with the Lord means to bear calamities and sufferings magnanimously for faith in the Lord. Truly our Lord commands this kind of endurance when He says to His followers: "Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child; and children will rise up against parents and put them to death. And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved" (Mt 10:21-22). Thus the holy martyrs remained with the Lord.
But the Lord promises salvation only to him who endures to the end. Since martyrdoms cease, this kind of endurance also ceases. Therefore we must inquire further what it means to remain with the Lord, even when there are no calamities and sufferings testing endurance.
In the word of God we find that to wait patiently for the Lord sometimes means to pray diligently and without slackening until we have propitiated God and been heard. We see this in the Psalmist, who says: "I waited patiently for the Lord, and He inclined to me and heard my prayer" (Ps 39:2). Moreover, in general, those who are courageous and constant in the struggles of piety are called those who wait for the Lord. This may be seen in the saying: "Those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not grow weary" (Is 40:31).
All these kinds of pious endurance, or, in one word, constancy in faith, Saint Barnabas commanded the Christians of Antioch. He exhorted them not only from necessity or under the pressure of circumstances, but "with purpose of heart to remain with the Lord." In this sense of the apostolic word, I also, though unworthy, am a minister of the same Word. I "exhort all" who hear me "with purpose of heart to remain with the Lord." That is, keep firmness and constancy both in the understanding and in every work of faith, and in a life worthy of a believer.
"You were born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, through the word of the living God, which abides forever" (1 Pet 1:23). To you, "little children," each according to the measure of his age, it has been given "to know the Father" (1 Jn 2:12-13). It has been given to know "the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom He has sent" (Jn 17:3).
With the same incorruptible and unchanging love, desire the pure spiritual milk of the word, the teaching of Christ, "that by it you may grow unto salvation" (1 Pet 2:2). On the contrary, do not be "children," tossed by levity and inconstancy, "carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceit" (Eph 4:14).
As an infant naturally desires one milk and constantly clings to one mother's breast, so you must cling constantly to the teaching of Christ. By this teaching you are nourished from the breasts of your true mother, the Orthodox Church. Do not be deceived by the word of man. Do not be carried away by flattering counsel. Be constant in following the word of God, so far as it is known to you. Remain with the Lord.
Even if persecutions producing martyrdom are not now raised against the followers of Christ, still now, as always, "through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22). Therefore, if calamity and sorrow are sent upon you, and, after careful examination of your conscience, you recognize in this a chastisement for your sins, then remain with the Lord. Say with the Psalmist: "Righteous art Thou, O Lord, and upright are Thy judgments. It is good for me that Thou hast humbled me, that I may learn Thy statutes" (Ps 118:137, 71).
But if you do not notice that the calamity befalling you has been brought on by your own fault, then also remain with the Lord. Say with Job: "As it pleased the Lord, so it has come to pass. Blessed be the name of the Lord" (Job 1:21).
The grace of God teaches you to pray to God for deliverance from troubles, and to ask His help in needs. Above all, it teaches you to ask for spiritual needs, concerning the salvation of your soul and your eternal blessedness. In this holy exercise also, beware of inconstancy and impatience.
The Lord commanded us "to pray and not lose heart" (Lk 18:1). That is, not to be burdened or wearied by prayer, but to abide in it without slackening. And the Apostle says to us: "Pray without ceasing" (1 Thess 5:17). He also says: "I desire that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting" (1 Tim 2:8).
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