Whoever
of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple. Luke 14:33
Whatever weight-loss plan you choose, you're bound to lose poundsat least for a
while. But most dieters reach a plateau before they reach their goal, and many get
discouraged when the thrill leaves before all the weight does. Many give up and go back to
their old ways of eating.
Something similar happens in our Christian lives. When we begin our walk with Jesus, we
easily shed many of the sins that have weighed us down. We give dramatic testimonies about
being freed from addictive behaviors. Then the attention shifts to another new believer,
and we discover that "little" sins like jealousy, resentment, and anger don't
drop away as readily as the "big" ones. Some of us get so discouraged that we
lose sight of our commitment to Christ and go back to some of our old ways of living.
When Jesus talked about the cost of being His disciple (Luke 14:25-35), He wanted those
who heard Him to realize that believing in Him and following Him involves more than
starting something that is exciting. It means sticking with something that is difficult.
So whether we're talking about weight loss or spiritual gain, the message is the same:
What matters most is not how we start but how we finish.
-JAL
Onward and upward your course plan today,
Seeking new heights as you walk Jesus' way;
Heed not past failures, but strive for the prize,
Aiming for goals fit for His holy eyes.
-Brandt
Perseverance makes the difference between failure and success.