Staying the Course

by Pastor Timothy Fortune

 Wow, January is flying by. It seems like yesterday we were home visiting with family and friends celebrating Christmas. Now the holidays are over and the start of the new year is well under way. We have quickly fallen back into our normal routine. Life is moving and time waits for no one. But didn’t we make new years resolutions, things we wanted to accomplish in 2008? Have we quickly forgotten? We made a commitment to spend more time in prayer, reading the bible more, getting more involved in church, lose weight, exercise, and the list goes on. You see it’s not just enough to make a commitment; you must follow through and finish the course.

In Acts 20:24 Luke records a statement by the apostle Paul; “But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my course with joy and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus Christ...”  Paul said none of these things move me. What a great attitude to have. This is a true commitment to complete the task that had been handed to him. We can all learn from this, we shouldn’t allow the many distractions that happen along life’s highway to hinder us from finishing that which we have committed to. You would not have made those resolutions if you didn’t feel they were important for you life, so don’t let anything stop you from reaching them. If you made a commitment to have a closer walk with the Lord this year, go for it and don’t let anything stop you. Just as much as you want to be close to the Lord, He desires to be close to you. You may have made a resolution to get in shape for your health, so just do it. If you are sick and weak because you haven’t taken care of yourself it is very hard to do good, help others and build the kingdom. Have the follow through to see that goal reached, and don’t give up at the first sight of hardship. Finish the course.

Paul statement, “I may finish my course with joy...” implies he is going to do so with joy. So let’s not just reach those goals but in the process let our hearts and mouths be filled with joy, knowing we are not only improving in our physical and spiritual life but in the process we will have the opportunity to make a difference in someone else’s life.

Stay the course and keep the faith in 2008!!!