Rules For Finishing Well

Acts 20:24, Ephesians 6:10, Colossians 3:23, Ecclesiastes 9:10, Revelation 2:4-5

One of the first things the coach tells the runner is, “keep your eyes on the goal.” The coach warns against the runner taking a glance at the crowd, the runners behind him, or some other distraction for in an instant, the runner is off course. There are so many things that the runner must do or not do to finish the race with joy. So it is as one is running the course of their Christian life and desires to finish well. Some of the rules for finishing well are:

• Meditate in and on the Bible daily. Psalm 1:1-3

• Exercise self-control in all things. I Corinthians 9:24-27

• Keep the heart clean. Matthew 23:25-28

• Guard against wrong, evil thoughts. Proverbs 4:23

• Examine and stop anything that feeds fleshly lusts. Galatians 5:16-18

• Cultivate a spiritual mind. Philippians 2:5

• Seek always to honor and please the Lord. I Corinthians 10:31

Some followers of the Lord have started out serving and obeying Him but somehow along the way they have been distracted from Him and now they are off course. This person’s life creates a great tragedy for the church and the cause of Christ as many testimonies have been contaminated and the scoffers have great joy in talking about the downfalls of Christians who are not finishing well.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for the new life You have given to me and guide me today as I run this race of life.

Projects: List anything that, or anyone who may be distracting from your race and what you plan to do about the distraction.