TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL PASSAGE

DEVOTIONAL

by Elder Chris Beltran

This is a story I remember quite fondly that is both humorous and relevant:

Once upon a time turtle and rabbit had an argument and decided to settle it in a race. At the start, the rabbit shot ahead and ran briskly for some time; then, seeing he was far ahead of the turtle, he thought he’d sit under a tree and relax before continuing. He soon fell asleep, and the turtle slowly walked onto the finish line and won the race. The rabbit woke up and realized that he had lost the race.

         Moral: It’s not how you start but how you finish the race that matters. I had watched and been in many basketball games where a team had a great start, leading by a big margin by the end of the 3rd quarter, relaxed, and became overconfident, then lost the game at the end.

We know of certain Bible characters who started very well, like Samson and King Solomon. Both of them knew clearly what their purpose was. Both were anointed and blessed by the Lord. Samson with his great physical strength, Solomon with his God-given wisdom, riches, and honor. While they started well, both did not finish well because of their weakness for women, the different pleasures of the world, and the overconfidence that they could handle these compromises by neglecting to obey God’s word led to their downfall. In the end, these weaknesses turned their divided hearts away from the Lord as He had previously warned. 

        Some people may have a great start, gifted, well educated, talented, and have resources that others don’t have, but if we don’t walk intimately with the Lord, read His word to have a renewed mind that will lead to transformation, addressing character issues like indulging in our pet sins, pride, lack of self-control, etc., we will not finish well. Some people who didn’t have a great start but persevered and have unwavering faith will finish well, like Joseph, the dreamer. It’s not how you start but how you finish the race that matters. Run the race with convictions that can only come by walking intimately with the Lord.

REFLECTION

By God’s grace, whatever tasks that you are doing, whatever stage you are in, even if you didn’t have a good start, finish well. Whether you are a student, finish well; an employer or employee, commit to finishing well. As parents, husbands, wives, whatever status you are in, don’t give up on your marriage or your family, commit to finishing well. Don’t give up on your church because of misunderstandings, commit yourself to being faithful to the Lord and to His church. Don’t let any conflicts, misunderstandings, or pride cause you not to finish well. A  genuine follower of God doesn’t drop off the race just because the going gets tough. Like Paul, let us declare with conviction this passage and live it out: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day.” We may not have a good start and experience some pain, failures, stress, and disappointments, but remember, it is not over til the Lord says it’s over.  

PRAYER

Lord, I want to love You with all of my heart, mind, soul, and strength. But often, I get distracted by the things of the world that take my focus away from You. May Your Holy Spirit strengthen me once again. I want to walk intimately with You so that I can clearly know Your heart and Your will for me. Forgive me once again for relying on my own strength, compromising Your word. I want to finish well this race that you have set before me with convictions that can only come from walking intimately with You. Help me, Lord, in Jesus’ name, amen.