How does the grace of God help you follow the right path that will give you a reasonable chance to finish your walk with the Lord well?
-His grace helps you maintain a holy lifestyle.
There is no greater obstacle to God's grace than the temptation to sin. Sin tarnishes the best of records and intentions. You must always allow the Holy Spirit to work in you to insure that you become more like Jesus. That involves a commitment to prayer, fellowship and Bible study. Grace helps you make sure that you make every effort to live a holy and obedient life.
-His grace helps you know your purpose.
Paul could say that he had run the race because he knew what his race entailed. Jesus finished the work the Father gave Him to do. Both knew their reason for being here and they stayed true to their work. In reexamining the list, it is obvious that the most successful finishers knew their purpose and stayed true to it to the end. Do you know your purpose? His grace helps you understand and embrace it.
-His grace helps you to be true to your purpose.
Solomon and King Saul knew their purpose, but got sidetracked by selfish ambition and personal pleasure. The Pharisees rejected God’s grace and it was the beginning of the end for their movement and way of life.
Luke 7:30 “But the Pharisees and experts in the law rejected God's purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John."
Be careful not to reject your purpose. By doing so, you will neither live up to your potential nor do all that you could have done for the Lord. The best finishers, like Jesus, Paul and Joseph, were productive to the end because they were true to their purpose.
-His grace helps you leave a spiritual legacy.
I don’t think you have to leave a building or movement that is named after you to leave a spiritual legacy.
Some write great literature, others have family who carry on their name or work, and still others leave a body of work that can be emulated. Finishing well requires that you spend some time thinking through what you will leave behind that has the potential to bless others after you’re gone. Grace provides no guarantee that will happen, for only God can provide that kind of impact. Yet, those who finish well think about what they have the power to produce that can remind people of the work that God has done in their life by His grace long after they're gone.
-His grace teaches us that leaving behind a good name is a great blessing.
Proverbs 10:7 “The memory of the righteous will be a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot.”
That’s quite a statement! What kind of name does King Saul have among Bible readers? Solomon? Samson? The Pharisee? Paul? Not many people are remembered by their family, church or community beyond one or two generations after their death. So if nothing else, you can finish well by leaving behind a good name that your children and grandchildren can remember. If you don’t have children, then you can leave a good name among those who knew you best, whether friends or associates. For that to happen, you will have to spend some time being a blessing to others, using your time and gifts to serve their needs. If you impart His grace throughout your life, your memory will never die in the hearts of those that matter the most to you.
No comments:
Post a Comment