Daily Devotional

-December 31, 2020-

Good morning, happy Thursday, Happy New Year’s Eve,

-Finishing The Year Strongly-

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

(2 Timothy 4:7).

The Apostle Paul, not only completed each year strongly, he finished his life and ministry for the Lord that way. In writing to Timothy, his son in the faith, he makes three declarative statements, all in the past tense, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” He made no excuses and had no regrets.

Paul employed three different analogies of the Christian life: as a soldier, a runner, and a minister of the gospel. He was ready to die and go to be with the Lord. He wrote in 2 Timothy 4:6, “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand.” He also wrote to the Philippians, “Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all” (Philippians 2:17). He died the way he lived: all for Jesus!

Paul taught us to do the same: to fight, to run, and to keep the faith each day. As we leave behind this difficult year 2020, we move onto a new year 2021. Paul wrote, “Brethren, I do not count myself as apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14).

We need to thank God for seeing us through this year with all we experienced this year. It was year none of us will ever forget, though we would like to. We cannot do the year over or change it in anyway. This Coronavirus pandemic is not over yet and health experts tell us the worst of it is still ahead until everyone is vaccinated for it. There is light at the end of the tunnel but we are still in the dark tunnel. We must be strong, resilient, and cautious. We cannot let down our guard, we have come too far.

The great hymn writer Frances Havergal wrote, “Standing at the portal of the opening year, words of comfort meet us, hushing every fear; Spoken through the silence by our Father’s voice, tender, strong and faithful, making us rejoice.” May each of us commit ourselves to fight the good fight to the end, to run the race to the finish line, and to keep the faith all the way through. The Lord is with us and will see us through victoriously! We grow more through adversity than through poverty. Thus it was a good year.

Have a blessed ending to 2020. It has been good, bad, and ugly; but we have grown and depended on the Lord so much. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean

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