Page 50 - Living Light - A Message of Joy!

PRAYER FOR TODAY
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Friday January 26 - Against the odds
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:7
In 2015, Leicester City football club were promoted to the English Premiership, and against odds of 5000 to 1 they became Premier League champions in their first season! Paul liked his sporting metaphors, particularly when writing to Greeks who were familiar with the Olympic Games. He’d fought a good fight and finished the race, painting a picture of a struggle on the way to winning.
In our own struggle and journey, we must hold our nerve and walk by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). One Leicester City fan placed a bet for them to win that would have netted him £250,000 when they eventually did. Sadly, he lost his nerve just weeks before the end of the season and cashed in his bet at £72,000. One of Scripture’s saddest outcomes is that because Moses broke faith with God at Meribah Kadesh (Deuteronomy 32:51-52) he didn’t cross the finishing line into the promised land.
We may make mistakes, but in Jesus things are different! It is not just our determination that gets us over the line, because Jesus has taken the win already! Our prize is there, awaiting collection, as Paul declares, ‘I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me... I press on toward the goal to win the prize...’ (Philippians 3:12,14). Your name is already on the trophy!
Father, help me to train and keep momentum in you; but reveal in me that I am already more than a conqueror in Jesus’ name! Amen!
Saturday January 27 - Eagerly awaiting
But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ... Philippians 3:20
How to end well in devotions entitled ‘Ending Well’?! Perhaps a recap? So here we go: We may have a poor record of finishing things, but even great leaders like Moses and Paul experienced their challenges. The ‘weather’ of our circumstances may be unfavourable to our goal, but keep going – we must forget what is behind and press ahead, pursue... Your salvation, calling and purpose contain everything you need for the journey, so build on what you have already attained; God’s provision is behind you! The odds may appear to be against you, but in Jesus you have already won! Hold your nerve!
Every moment of every day is a new opportunity to move towards finishing well. Seeing it that way is better than continual, guilt-ridden, starting again. When you look to Jesus, not at your failings, it becomes ‘pressing on’. Paul said, ‘But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body’ (Philippians 3:20-21). Everything you do for Jesus in this life is an expression of your ‘eagerly awaiting’. Seek joy, meaning and purpose and therefore the eagerness of waiting. This way, you will end well!
Father God, by your Word and your Holy Spirit, I commit my way to you. Help me to eagerly await you and end well in you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
PRAYER FOR TODAY