HOW WELL ARE YOU DOING AT FOLLOWING JESUS' FINAL INSTRUCTIONS?

Today's promise: God gives us strength to cope with hard work

How well are you doing at following Jesus' final instructions?

Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone, everywhere.

Mark 16:15 NLT

"'You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"

Matthew 22:37-38 NLT

The real work

On October 20, 1968, a dramatic moment took place at the Mexico City Olympics. A few thousand spectators remained in the almost-dark Olympic Stadium awaiting one last runner.

Finally the wail of police sirens ripped the air. As all eyes turned to the gate, a lone runner wearing the colors of Tanzania staggered into the stadium. John Stephen Akhwari was the last contestant to finish the 26-mile contest. He had injured his leg in a fall and entered the track bloodied and crudely bandaged. While he hobbled the final, lonely lap, spectators rose and applauded him as if he had won.

After the race, someone asked him why he had refused to quit. "My country did not send me 7,000 miles to start the race," he replied simply. "They sent me 7,000 miles to finish it."

To help us achieve a strong finish in our race of faith, Jesus Christ promised that "Whoever confesses Me before men, him the Son of Man will also confess before the angels of God."

You too can finish the race well by eagerly confessing Christ before others.

Adapted from Breakfast with Jesus by Greg Laurie (Tyndale House), pp 257-59

Content is derived from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation and other publications of Tyndale Publishing House