Fighting, Finishing, and Keeping!

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

TOPIC: Fighting, Finishing, and Keeping!

In the Christian life, finishing well means everything. As Paul faced execution, he wrote to Timothy, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith” (2 Tim. 4:7).

As Paul writes to Timothy and contemplates his impending death, he evaluates his life and ministry. While we live in a culture that exalts the winner and scorns the loser, Paul assesses his life based on three things: he fought the good fight, he finished the course, and he kept the faith. How interesting that there is no mention of winning—only that of fighting, finishing, and keeping!

We are so prone to think of ourselves as failures if we don’t set records or win so demonstrably as to have monuments built to our endeavors. But for Paul, most likely the greatest Christian who ever lived, it was a matter of endurance. For Paul, he won by lasting.

The author of Hebrews was concerned that some of his readers were about to drop out of the race because they were fainting under God’s discipline. “Therefore” (12:12) points back to what he has just said about the need to endure God’s discipline because it stems from His love and it is designed “for our good, so that we may share His holiness” (12:10). It also points back to our need to look to the greatest example, Jesus, “who for the joy set before Him endured the cross” (12:2). So the author is exhorting them (and us) to persevere in the Christian marathon, to stay in the race to the end, in spite of weariness or whatever injuries we may have sustained. He tells us that…

To finish the Christian race, persevere in the pursuit of peace and purity.

LET US PRAY
You will not be Spiritualy tired, you will finish well in Jesus Name.
Amen

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