Have you found that some of the many choices you make on a daily basis have become habits that don’t serve you well? We have to become intentional about avoiding those poor choices to experience a better way of life.
Do you want to make a positive impact and leave the world around you a bit better than you found it? Then let's choose to make wiser decisions remembering that words matter, character counts and our conduct—what we think, say and do reveals our heart.
The purpose of this 31-day devotional series is to help us all focus on godly characteristics and attributes that can become a daily part of our character and equip us to make wise choices.
When we make wise choices based on God's Word, they will bring us the satisfaction in life that we all long for, which will gradually transform our lifestyle into one that will be an example for others and point them to Christ.
My goal in this series is to help you fall in love with Jesus in a new and fresh way as we discuss all these character qualities that He modeled for us in the Scriptures. As we focus our attention on His attributes and embrace an eternal perspective, imitating what he modeled for us, the more we will think and act like Him. Isn't that awesome? We become like those with whom we spend the most time.
The way we think affects how we feel, and how we feel affects the way we behave. If we want to change the way we act, we must go back and change our thoughts and choices.
We are only as close to God as we choose to be. Keep in mind, God gives us the freedom to make choices; however, we have to deal with, and don't get to choose the consequences of both the good and bad choices we make.
Jesus chose to die for us. The least we can do is to choose to live for Him.
A different godly attribute and character quality is taken and discussed for each day with a challenge to live intentionally, making life adjustments as needed in attitude and actions to become more like Christ in our thoughts, words and deeds - the end result being a transformed life - more like Christ.
The first and last chapters: First with the challenge to intentionally take to heart all the amazing attributes of Christ that we share - that are available to us who are followers of Christ but may be lying dormant - with the challenge, with God's help to activate or reactivate. Then, the last chapter is a great wrap as we look at the importance of finishing well. I think that is something we all should want.
Have you thought much about the end of your life and how you are leaving your little corner of the world? Are you making a positive eternal impact? Are you living a life that others want to emulate? Are you living your life in such a way that others say, I want to have that kind of impact in the lives of others? These are thoughtful questions, aren't they? These questions cross my mind every time I attend a memorial service.
Has God given you a job to do? In everything we do, whether we choose it or not, there is a finish point. You know, as lovely as it is to start well, what's much more important is that we end well. That means trusting God's wisdom all the way to the finish line. Even if we don't win or accomplish our goals, we must finish the task before us without giving up. When we do, we will have lived well.
The writer of Hebrews in 12:1-2 tells us, " Let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."
We must recognize that life is not a sprint, but a marathon, a long-distance race. It's not so much how we begin but how we finish that matters. It's about perseverance and endurance for the whole length of the course.
Our ultimate model of finishing well is Jesus. He was able to ascend to the Father because He had finished the mission He set out to accomplish. Sometimes it feels like more is coming at us than we can handle. Sometimes we are even hampered by our sin and weaknesses that keep us focused more on ourselves than on God and others. If we quit before it's finished or run defeated to the finish line, we might miss the strength that awaits us. Don't lose heart. The ascended Lord, who has gone before us, will help us to finish well.
It's important to finish well for many reasons. One being that how we finish this assignment might determine our next appointment. While it may be tempting to quit before you've finished with a particular task, may I encourage you to lean into the faithfulness of God and finish well. Remember that whatever is before you—a difficult conversation, a financial limitation, a physical weakness—whatever difficulty you face, God's strength is with you.
Every assignment or season God calls us to offers an eternal perspective. We can trust Him that He promises restoration, confirmation and strength if we don't give up.
I'm sure we all can think of someone we know who has not finished well. There is no room in a life destined for a godly legacy for there to be unconfessed, habitual sin. If that is a problem, you must tap into the Holy Spirit's power to help overcome it. There is no question we all leave a legacy. The question is, what kind of legacy are we leaving?
Your obedience now will provide a legacy of faithfulness to the next generation. While on the legacy topic, do you realize that when you faithfully, continually pray for someone, your prayers may outlive you and come to fruition years later? Never stop praying. You may pass away, but the impact of your prayers will not.
We only have one opportunity to live this life. What task or calling has God set for you? Something I have said before, God may need to do something in you before He can work through you. We must make sure we are open to the Holy Spirit with a teachable attitude, so we can be an empty vessel to be filled with the Spirit, living a life of surrender and obedience so He can use us to accomplish His plan and purpose.
I urge you not to give up until He says it's complete. In everything we do, whether we choose it or not, there is a finish line, and I know you want to finish well. I know I long to hear at the end of my life, "Well done, good and faithful servant." Remember, other people's opinion of you really shouldn't matter. We should be living out our life to an audience of only one—Jesus. He is the only one who knows everything about you and still loves you completely. It is He who establishes your identity as a child of God. What have you started that you need to finish? What commitments have you made that you need to complete? Only what's done for Christ will last, and He is the only one who can give you eternal rewards for a life well-lived.