Daily Devotional – 7/25/17 “Finish what you start!”

Have you ever seen a runner start a race and then decide, at the halfway point, this is too hard and walk off? Have you ever heard a preacher stop, in the middle of their sermon, and decide to quit simply because you weren’t listening? Have you ever driven 50 miles on a 100 mile trip but decide to turn around when it got dark? Have you ever gone half way through treatment and changed your mind? I’m asking because too many times, we forfeit some stuff by giving up too soon. I know you may not have been through some of the things I’ve mentioned above but I needed to give you a visual. I needed you to see how you are forsaking the blessing of going on. I need you to see the magnitude of giving up too soon. Is it always easy? Heck no. Is it worth it? Heck yes! This is why we have to stop getting defeated by the darkness when God, who is our light, is bright enough to get us through. We give up at the first sign of hardship when God has made us strong enough to endure. Beloved, you’ve got to finish what you start. How else can you get the credit you deserve? I mean, I checked and I have yet to see a reward for the person who gave up. I looked and I didn’t see a place on the scoreboard for someone who almost finished. I checked the website and I didn’t see a degree for somebody who almost graduated. Is there a place for somebody who almost succeeded?

Please understand, I am not talking about those who came in second; they finished. I am not talking about those who got a two degree, they finished. However, I am talking about those of us who begin something, only to quit when it gets tough. Yesterday, I almost quit the gym but then I felt the pain in my hips (from the weight) so I am pushing to finish what I started. I looked at my tuition bill and I almost quit school but I’ve got to finish what I started. I don’t know what you are thinking about giving up or that you are considering quitting but you have to finish what YOU started. In 2 Corinthians 8, Paul is talking to the churches of Macedonia about their giving. He said, they started when they were poor and being tested but their overflowing joy pushed them to give over what they could afford. Now Titus is being urged to go back to encourage them to finish. I am not sharing this in regards to money but for whatever it is you are thinking about quitting. For the bible says in 2 Corinthians 8:10-11, “And this is my opinion about what is helpful for you in this matter: Last year you were the first not only to give, but even to have such a desire. Now finish the work, so that you may complete it just as eagerly as you began, according to your means.” Finish what you’ve started, on your terms. It’s easy to give up but rewarding to finish.