Filed under: Devotions
There is a children’s song that I remember that says “I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, no turning back.” I have noticed that sometimes Christians start out strong, but somewhere along the way they seem to fizzle out. I want to give you a few ways that will help you to finish strong:
1) Intimacy with Christ
Our highest calling is to grow in our knowledge of Christ and to make Him known to others. A key secret of those who finish well is to focus more on loving Jesus than on avoiding sin. The more we love Jesus, the more we will learn to put our confidence in Him alone.
2) Practice the Spiritual Disciplines
Spiritual disciplines such as prayer, fellowship, study, worship, and submission are not ends in themselves, but means to the end of intimacy with Christ and spiritual growth.
3) Understand the Biblical Perspective on the circumstances of life.
Part of the purpose of our suffering and trials is to drive us to dependence on God alone. God responds by revealing more of Himself to us. This knowledge increases our faith and our capacity to trust His character and His promises through the times we do not understand His purposes and His ways. When we view our circumstances in light of God’s character instead of God’s character in light of our circumstances, we come to see that God is never indifferent to us, and that He uses suffering for our good so we will be more fully united to Christ.
4) Be teachable, obedient, and humble
Humility and obedience are the keys to maintaining a teachable spirit. As we mature in Christ, we learn to trust God’s character and promises in spite of ambiguity or trials.
5) Invest in the lives of others
Spirit-filled living requires us to discover and develop the spiritual gifts we have received and exercise them through the Spirit’s power for the edification of others. Believers who finish well are marked by ongoing outreach and sacrificial ministry for the good of other people.
Finish Stong!
