26TH MARCH, 2014. EVENING DEVOTION. DETERMINATION, AN ATTRIBUTE OF GREATNESS PART 2. TONIGHTS SCRIPTURE. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. (2 Timothy 4:7 NIV) We saw the importance of determination in the morning devotion and established that you cannot achieve anything in life without determination. It should be the desire of every believer that at the end of their lives they can say I finished the race, fought the good fight, kept the faith and as a result there is a crown laid up for me in heaven. Paul was not talking about salvation here; that is a free gift. He was talking about rewards. He was running for rewards. There is a crown that will last on that side. We will spend a longer time on that side of eternity than this side. Paul wanted to be a winner in life, not a winner of the world, but the winning that counts. He summarized this by giving three suggestions on how to be persistent in 2Timothy 15-16 .How do you continue to be encouraged when things get discouraging? 1) v. 15. All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. You must face your faults, focus on the future, forget the former and fight to the finish. All those who are mature will act this way. Paul was saying you should not be complacent or become satisfied. 2) Be teachable. And if on some point you think differently that too God will make clear to you. When you stay open, God will teach you. Once you stop being teachable, you stop learning. Once you stop learning, you stop growing and that leads to death. 3) Be persistent. Let us live up to what we have already attained. Galatians 6:9 Let us not grow weary in doing good. For at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Dont give up. Dont give up on your marriage, ministry,dream, etc. You will reap a harvest at the proper time if you do not give up. Philippians 1:6 Be confident of this very thing. That He [God] who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion unto the day of Christ Jesus. What God starts, He finishes. He doesnt lead you out on a limb and cut you off. Do your part and God will do His part. Do your best and He will do the rest. When was the last time you sat down and did a frank, personal evaluation of your life? Your marriage, career, finances, relationship with God, relationship with your kids,etc. Tonights Response We all have things we do not like about ourselves. But you cannot grow as long as you keep it locked in a closet. Let the fear, regret and worry out into the open. Powered by Potters House Church
Posted on: Wed, 26 Mar 2014 15:39:23 +0000
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