Finish Well!

BIBLE READING: 1 Tim. 6: 6 - 10 6 Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. 7 After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can't take anything with us when we leave it. 8 So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content. 9 But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

What does this passage mean to you? 

BLOG: Too often, I see people give up. Some quit before they start. As a result, they miss out on whatever blessing their persistence and faith would have accomplished. 

Philippians 3:14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Keep your eye on the prize. A running coach observed a young runner who consistently came in 2nd at every event. He would lead the pack up until the ever end and lose. This coach walked up to the young man and said, "I know why you are coming in 2nd every time." The young man was all ears. "Tell me!" he begs. At the end of the race, you look back to see if anyone is closing in on you. As soon as you take your eyes off the tape, you slow down. Next time, focus on the tape and nothing else. The young man won his next race and eventually ran in the Olympics. 

Luke 9:62 Jesus said to him, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."

As a kid, my dad would put me on the tractor and tell me to do two things. 1) Keep my eye on a landmark like a fence post or a rock and 2) don't look back. Well, he knew that I would look back the first time I did it. So when I got to the end of the row, he stopped me and said, "Now, look back at your row." I did, and there it was — a big bow in the middle of the row. The very moment I turned my head, I turned the wheel. I had to fix it, and I never looked back. 

When you look back on your life, do so with hope and love. Don't look back with regret and anger — every time you do that you will lose your course. Jesus and His church will become less relevant to you. Following Him will not take a priority in your life. Before you know it, you've lost your way. 

Keep your eyes on your faith. Jesus is your goal, and His hope in your heart is your life. 

PRAY: Dear Jesus, please help me to keep my eyes on You. Let my faith follow you every day. AMEN