“For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.” (Hebrews 10:36)

Many people use paper plates. Usually for outside grillings, potlucks, or for large family gatherings. They are convenient and easy to use. 

The paper plate was invented in the early 1900s. Martin Keyes watched some workers at a veneer plant in New York eating their lunch on scrap pieces of maple veneer. This inspired him to start developing disposable dishware. 

Today there are different qualities of paper plates. Some are better and stronger than others. Most want to look for a durable plate that will hold the types of food we are serving. Have you ever experienced using a thin paper plate where the food fell off or the sauce soaked through? This may lead us to look for the best quality paper plates.

Let’s examine the paper plate versus china or stoneware for endurance. We can all see by far that china and stoneware are the strongest. They will endure plates full of food time and time again. Even the strongest paper plate will not last time after time and eventually give way or wear out.

Endurance is the fact or power of enduring an unpleasant or difficult process or situation without giving way.

Oxford Dictionary

Bringing this over to our spiritual application. We need strength and endurance in life’s situations like stoneware or china. We need to be strong throughout the duration of our life. Every time we go through some hardship we become stronger. 

Endurance is for the long haul.

“More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope.” (Romans 5:3-4)

How strong is your plate? As experiences in life come our way we may not be as strong at first, but as life’s situations move along we will grow stronger. If your plate seems to fall apart, transfer it to a stronger plate. If your plate is saturated with the burdens of life, go to God in prayer. 

We are going to have suffering and trials. James tells us those who remain steadfast will receive the crown of life (1:12).

Keep in mind how Jesus endured the cross (Heb 12:3).

Hymn: Hand In Hand With Jesus 

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