A FULL YEAR BEFORE THE apostle Paul wrote to people who comprised the Corinthian church, they had begun a project. No doubt they got started with a burst of enthusiasm, the thrill of a fresh beginning. But with the passing of time, the newness had worn off. The edge of their spontaneous motivation had gotten dull. It became a monotonous marathon that dragged slowly on and on. So, Paul prodded them to stick with their commitment:
Here is my advice: It would be good for you to finish what you started a year ago. Last year you were the first who wanted to give, and you were the first to begin doing it. Now you should finish what you started. Let the eagerness you showed in the beginning be matched now by your giving. Give in proportion to what you have.
Paul said, in effect, "Get with it! You made a commitment to get involved, to give, and to help out—so, return to that commitment!"
How easy it is to get excited about something, but it's much harder to stay excited and complete it. Yet Paul puts his finger on the secret of doing just that: eagerness.
Remaining eager about your commitments to Christ can also be a struggle. Yet staying motivated requires sustained enthusiasm. And I can assure you, becoming a person who "stays at it" regardless of the opposition or struggle is ultimately the desire of the One who dwells within us!
Do you need to renew your commitment to a promise you made to the Lord? Could you use a fresh dose of spiritual eagerness to spur you across the finish line? Then say so! Turn to the Lord in boldness and ask Him to give you the motivation you need to finish strong. Today's the day to start!
Devotional content taken from Good Morning, Lord . . . Can We Talk? by Charles R. Swindoll. Copyright © 2018. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, a division of Tyndale House Ministries. All rights reserved. The full devotional can be purchased at tyndale.com.
Used with permission. All rights reserved.
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