Finish - Don't Quit

8) Stay on course

Hebrews 2:1 - We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.

Hebrews 3:12, 13 – See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away (Amp = stands aloof) from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness (Amp = delusive glamor).

Message - So watch your step, friends. Make sure there's no evil unbelief lying around that will trip you up and throw you off course, diverting you from the living God. For as long as it's still God's Today, keep each other on your toes so sin doesn't slow down your reflexes.

Hebrews 4:1 - Message - For as long, then, as that promise of resting in him pulls us on to God's goal for us, we need to be careful that we're not disqualified.

Hebrews 10:23 – Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess.

Amp = seize and hold fast and retain without wavering

Hebrews 13:9 - (Message) Don't be lured away from him

2 Corinthians 11:3 – (Message) And now I'm afraid that exactly as the Snake seduced Eve with his smooth patter, you are being lured away from the simple purity of your love for Christ.

Luke 9:62 – Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God."

Message - Jesus said, "No procrastination. No backward looks. You can't put God's kingdom off till tomorrow. Seize the day."

Did you spend time in God’s Word today? Did you listen to His still, small voice? Or, are you putting it off until that illusive day we call tomorrow?

Have you gotten off course?

Have you been diverted from the living God?

Only one life, ‘twill soon be past; only what’s done for Christ will last.

“If we do not learn with Paul the Christ-exalting paradoxes of life, we will squander our days pursuing bubbles that burst.” (John Piper)

Resist… the pull.

9) Finish – Don’t quit

Hebrews 3:14 - We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first.

Hebrews 6:10-12 – God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.

Message - God doesn't miss anything. He knows perfectly well all the love you've shown him by helping needy Christians, and that you keep at it. And now I want each of you to extend that same intensity toward a full-bodied hope, and keep at it till the finish. Don't drag your feet. Be like those who stay the course with committed faith and then get everything promised to them.

Amp = Do not become disinterested and become spiritual sluggards

Romans 12:11 – Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.

Message - Don't burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don't quit in hard times; pray all the harder.

Luke 21:19 – (Message) Staying with it—that's what is required. Stay with it to the end.

Have you burned out? Are you about to quit?

Say it to yourself - Resist… the pull.