Today’s blog, written by Pastor Sam Lee of Catalyst Agape Church in New Jersey, was first posted on December 1, 2013.

 

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Finishing Well”

1 Corinthians 9:24-27

 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. 27 No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. 

Can you believe it’s already October? As the year is winding down, it has been a long spiritual journey; finish strong and make the last quarter of 2019 count.  As the finish line looms, run as though you are going to win instead of just crawling to the finish line. The Bible assures us that our time with the Lord doesn’t drain us; rather, it fills us.  How? Since He is the vine and we are the branches (Jn. 15:5), His life flows through us, especially when we have intimate and vital connection with Him through our daily quiet time, which, in this way, becomes pivotal to having a victorious life in Christ.

I remember attempting to hike up a mountain in North Jersey Appalachian trail.  Being out of shape physically, when my body started to give out, I had to turn back in defeat; I failed to make it to the top. Then, after working out regularly for an extended period, I retried to climb the same mountain: I easily conquered it. I felt so good that after dismounting, I successfully climbed the mountain next to it. 

Many of you have been spiritually exercising the whole year through AMI Quiet time; hopefully, it wasn’t a matter of checking off an item from your daily to-do list.  If you have been approaching it with the right attitude, then, I believe you are now ready to conquer another spiritual mountain even higher. During your time with the Lord throughout the year, God has bestowed in you spiritual authority, revelations and truths, compassion, deeper faith, and “every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Eph. 1:3).  If you merely survived this year spiritually, then, may you thrive in the coming year in which you run to be victorious in every facet of your life, in Him.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for giving me the strength, through the Holy Spirit, to overcome the many obstacles I face.  Help me to push forward, in word and prayer, in love, faith and hope. Amen. 

Bible Reading for Today: Revelation 13