daily bible readings

As we grow older, there are more and more temptations to lessen our faith and zeal in serving the Lord. Our health can pull us down and cause us to slacken off in the faith. The temptation to travel the world or retire by the beach and collect seashells until we are at home with the Lord can dampen our enthusiasm. The old adage “I’ve done my time” can give us excuse to constrict our desire and passion to serve the Lord.  And the world is besotted with the notion that we need to look after number 1, line our own nests and live the good life throughout our retirement.

Amaziah fell into temptation and did not finish his kingship well. He chose to bow down to false gods (gods that Yahweh had defeated), to pray to them and to offer sacrifices to them. His army was routed by the “enemy” and his city and the temple were ransacked.

The Chronicler sums up the end of Amaziah’s reign in blunt and negative terms. “Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah lived for fifteen years after the death of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel. 26 As for the other events of Amaziah’s reign, from beginning to end, are they not written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel? 27 From the time that Amaziah turned away from following the Lord, they conspired against him in Jerusalem and he fled to Lachish, but they sent men after him to Lachish and killed him there. 28 He was brought back by horse and was buried with his fathers in the City of Judah.” 2 Chronicles 25:25–28.

In contrast to the many kings who dropped the ball towards the end of their reigns, the Apostle Paul finished well and persevered to the very end. Paul himself declares in 2 Timothy 4:7–8, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”

Paul remained Jesus-focused and passionate for all of his life. In the face of constant and huge opposition, Paul never waivered in his faith. He continued to serve the Lord and to reach out to the lost. Paul remained zealous to the very end.

The church at large is blessed with an army of potential volunteers who have finished work and still have ample volumes of energy to pour into kingdom work. The church would do well to mobilise these potential workers to make the most of their available time, their mobility and freedom. The Kingdom of God could benefit immensely as they reorient their lives and work for God’s cause.

But, all of us need to make sure that we are pacing ourselves and running strategically so that we finish well, regardless of what ministry or areas of service we are in. 

To illustrate and understand how our finishing can affect or change everything, one only needs to think of the two words “price” and “worth”. These words have the same meaning, roughly speaking. However, as we end these words with the suffix “less”,  the meaning of both words becomes contradictory and opposite to the other. The ending changes everything. Priceless has a totally opposite meaning to worthless. The way a word is finished can alter and change the whole word. So too, the way we end our ministry can change and affect the whole.

Prayer:

Adoration:

• Adore God that He watches over us and strengthens us daily and gives us all we need for life and godliness.
• Adore the Lord, your God and Saviour, who richly blesses us and allows all things to work for the good of those who love Him.

Confession:

• Take time to confess your sins to the Lord and to ask for forgiveness

Thanks:

• Thank God for the perseverance he has granted you in the past.
• Thank God that He loves you and provides for you daily.

Supplication:

• Pray that your service of worship tomorrow will be pleasing to God and honouring to Him.
• Pray that the saints would be grown and built up in the Lord tomorrow and that the non-believers would be challenged to put their faith and trust in Jesus as their Lord and Saviour.

Discussion Questions

1. What factors contributed to Paul being faithful and passionate throughout his entire life?
2. What can younger Christians be doing to build long term stamina and perseverance?
3. Why do you think so many kings throughout the history of God’s people did not finish well?