Topic: Finish Well by Focusing [RICK WARREN Devotional 5 January 2025]
Click HERE for Previous MESSAGES
Finish Well by Focusing
by Rick Warren — January 5, 2025
From The Key to Hope
“Let us strip off every weight that slows us down . . . And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.”
Hebrews 12:1-2 (NLT)
Light diffused has no power at all. But focused light through a magnifying glass can burn a piece of grass or paper. If you focus light even more, it becomes a laser that can cut through steel.
In the same way, the more focused your life is, the more effective you’re going to be.
But it matters what you focus on. An effective life for the Christian is not focused on your career, your income, your success, or even your problems. Why? Because none of those things are going to last. They’re all temporary. They’re all going to fade away.
Instead of focusing on anything of this world, you need to set your mind on two things: Jesus Christ and how he lived and the inevitable rewards that are coming when you cross the finish line and meet him in heaven.
Living a focused life takes persistence. And the key to persistence is perspective. It’s all in the way you look at life. Why always determines how long. When you figure out why you do what you do, then you’ll have the motivation to keep on doing it.
The reason why so many Christians falter and don’t end the race well is they forget why they’re doing it. Why am I reading the Bible or going to church or meeting with a small group or serving in ministry?
We do it because these are habits that help us grow spiritually and prepare us for eternity. When we forget that we’re living for eternity and instead live for now, the distractions of life get us off track. We have to stay focused.
The most powerful motivation in life is not internal or external. It’s eternal.
Do you know how many times I wanted to quit during the 40 years I was a pastor? Just about every Monday morning! I would get discouraged and say, “Surely, there’s got to be somebody who can do a better job than me!” But I kept going because I want to finish well for Jesus, and I’m living in light of eternity.
Hebrews 12:1-2 says, “Let us strip off every weight that slows us down . . . And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith” (NLT).
The secret to finishing well is focus. Keep your eyes on God. Keep your eyes on eternity. Keep your eyes on the reward. Keep your eyes on ending well.
Talk It Over
- What is your life focused on? Why do you think this is true about you? Would others say the same?
- What is one thing you can choose to focus on today so you can finish the race well? (For example, committing to reading your Bible regularly, joining a small group, memorizing Scripture, etc.)
- In what ways does being part of a church and a small group help you focus on eternity?
ALSO READ: CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW US ON TWITTER ⊗ OPEN HEAVEN ⊗ JOEL OSTEEN DEVOTIONAL⊗ ABOVE ONLY ⊗ OUR DAILY BREAD ⊗ SEEDS OF DESTINY ⊗ JOYCE MEYER DEVOTIONAL ⊗ RHAPSODY OF REALITIES ⊗ JOHN HAGEE ⊗ MFM DAILY DEVOTIONALUTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST⊗DCLM DAILY MANNA ⊗ JOHN PIPER DEVOTIONAL ⊗
