This week’s devotions are based on “The Key” Week 6: “Pursue Your Future with Grace!” (WATCH HERE)
I just want to quit.
Have you ever felt this way?
Maybe halfway through a semester of a class that is proving challenging and taking a lot of your time…I want to quit.
Maybe you are running your first half marathon and your legs are burning and you just want to stop and step off the race course.
Maybe you signed a contract with the military for a four year enlistment and half way through you feel like quitting.
Endurance is a hard thing because when we are doing hard things we feel like quitting.
Being a follower of Christ is not an easy thing. Jesus himself challenged those that would follow him to “count the cost.” If you get into following Jesus, it’s not going to be easy to stay a follower for the rest of your life. Jesus warned us:
Luke 14:25 Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. 27 And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.
28 “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? 29 For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, 30 saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’
The Apostle Paul let us in on what he had to endure as a follower and missionary for Jesus.
2 Timothy 3:10 You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, 11 persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them.
“Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them.”
The key to endurance is relying on the strength of the Lord. When we feel like giving up and stepping away from our Savior, it’s time to pursue our Savior all the more. He will give us strength.
The last of the pursuits is gentleness. Gentleness is kindness with humility. Gentleness is the spirit with which we go through life even when faced with conflict. Gentleness is the ability to show grace when grace is not deserved. Gentleness is a spirit that doesn’t get worked up when others antagonize us and responds with love and respect. This is key in our witness of our Savior. If we blow up, are rude, or angry, we will miss a crucial piece to our witness. The Apostle Paul, 2 Timothy 2:24 And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 25 Those who oppose him, he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.
Gentleness communicates the attitude of love to those with whom we interact. It’s not easy, so we pursue it.
Pursuit takes effort. Pursuit takes intention. Pursuit is a constant. But pursuing righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness, with the Lord’s blessing will exhibit clearly to the world the grace of God you have received.
Finally pursue grace.
1 Timothy 6:11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.
Apply: What moments in your Christian life do you feel like giving up and walking away from following Christ? What helps prevent this from happening?
Prayer: Lord, thank you for your grace for it is my motivation and strength to pursue all that you would have me pursue for the glory of your name and to be a blessing to others. AMEN.