464. Beginning Is The Easy Part

“I don’t know if you remember,” Stan began, “but I think I told you how difficult it was for me to be consistent in spending time with God each day.”

“Oh, I remember,” I replied.  “You indicated that it was nearly impossible for you.”

“Starting was easy,” Stan said.  “I started and failed many times; probably more times than I could count.  But through God’s grace, I was finally able to start and maintain having a time with God every day.  A time of worship, devotion, and prayer.”

“Every day?” I asked.

“Every day,” Stan responded.  “And it is time of real richness for me that I hope will be the same for you, my friend, and for each person who calls on the name of the Lord.”

Continuing, he said, “I was reminded of this whole subject earlier this morning when I was reading the apostle Paul’s second letter to his friend Timothy who was in Ephesus.”

“How so?” I asked.

“Paul encouraged Timothy to complete what he had begun,” Stan replied.  “While Paul was writing specifically about Timothy’s ministry in Ephesus, I think it has application to whatever it is that God has encouraged me to do.”

“Beginning something for God,” Stan continued, “is very easy.  It’s the part about continuing and completing it that is the hard part.”

“What do you think makes it so hard?” I asked.

“The usual stuff,” Stan replied.  “Self, the world, the flesh, the devil.  Focusing on what I want to do apart from God, rather than following His lead in being who He has for me to be.  Failure to do what He has for me to do, whatever it is!”

“So,” I said, “this sounds kind of like something else.  It sounds like completing what God has for you, or me, or anyone, to complete is the same thing as discipleship.”

“That’s a good way to put it, my friend,” Stan replied.  “Just about everything in my relationship with God revolves around those same three things that Jesus talked about for me to be a disciple.  Get me out of God’s way, do what God has for me to do, and follow Him wherever He leads, whatever the direction and whatever the cost.”

Concluding, he said, “I think it applies to everything, especially the ministry God has for me, whatever that might be.”

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Fulfill your ministry.  2 Timothy 4:5.

Prayer:  Thank you, Father, that you have ministry for me to do.  I ask that you open me to see what it is you have for me to be and to do, whatever it is.  I confess that too often I fail to follow through with what you have shown me I am to fulfill.  Please forgive me.  And please help me in following your lead in every aspect of what you want me to do in fulfilling the ministry you have for me.  Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus.  Amen.

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Things to think (and journal) about:

1.  What is your biggest take-away from this devotional?

2.  What does this devotional say about God and about us as His people?

3.  What is God saying to you to do personally?

4.  Who can you share this with to make a difference?

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Comments, questions, suggestions, and the like can be addressed to The Storyteller at: waiting4thetrain@gmail.com.