I want to exhort you on the wisdom to finish well — how to be wise if you want to finish well. The truth is, life is full of starters; many start well but just a few continue to finish well and strong.
I do not doubt that Romans 12 is important to teach you how to finish well and strong in whatever you have started. This chapter of the Bible will teach you how to run and finish well by faith.
I do not doubt that you can run and finish well. You will not miss God’s best for you. You will win and not fail if you can do the following;
1. Present your bodies as a living sacrifice:
It is important to remember that the body is the vehicle that carries the soul and spirit. Your body is what permits you to operate here; the very day the body becomes weak or sick or dead, you have to leave.
We must do everything to protect this body and the only way to protect and prepare this body for function, is to present it as a living sacrifice to God. This is the time to offer yourself as a living sacrifice. Give yourself to the church and serve the Lord with knowledge and zeal and holiness.
[Romans 12:1 KJV] “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”
2. Don’t conform to the pattern of the world around you:
If you want to run and finish well in the will of God, you must not conform to the pattern of the world around you. If you will survive on campus, you must know who you are, and not copy everything you see around you. Friendship with the world is enmity with God.
[Romans 12:2 KJV] “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
3. Think soberly; don’t think too highly of yourself.
I want to exhort you to escape the trap of thinking that you are something that you are not. Endeavour not to think too highly of yourself.
Sometimes, we exalt ourselves too much. That makes us proud, too proud and we lose friends and great opportunities. It is important to remember that everyone is endowed with a gift. We all have our gifts and it is important to discover these gifts and use them to serve the Lord.
We all have gifts but our gifts differ. What you have is different from what I have, but we are all gifted in our special ways. Though we are different, we are members of One Body.
[Romans 12:3 KJV] “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith”
4. It takes teamwork to make a work work:
None of us have all it takes. We are all interdependent. You need me and I need you. We are members of one another. Your life flows into mine and mine into yours; we must help others and ask for help when in need.
[Romans 12:4-5 KJV] “For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: [5] So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.”
5. Having a gift is not enough, develop your skills set:
It is good to be gifted, but better to train and develop that gift. I believe we can all do more when we all work on our gifts.
[Romans 12:6-8 KJV] “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; [7] Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;
[8] Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.”
6. Operate by love without discrimination:
Love will conquer great battles. Others may wrong you in this life, but loving will help you to forgive or cover multitudes of wrong. If you are going to win in 2021, you must love.
[Romans 12:9 KJV] “Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.”
7. Be fervent, zealous, and passionate in spirit and business as you serve the Lord:
I do not doubt that you can run and finish well. You will not fail; you will do well. My book, Steps to Total Victory will help you with finishing well and strong.
God bless you!
