Discipline

05
Jan
2024
Finishing Strong

Finishing Strong

2 Timothy 4:7 “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

Fighting the Good Fight

Picture the apostle Paul penning this triumphant testimony from a Roman prison, awaiting execution for preaching Christ. Despite horrific persecution, he had no regrets. He had fought well.

Paul knew he had fully engaged in spiritual warfare. He had contended for the gospel at tremendous personal cost. Hardship did not cause him to shrink back or wave the white flag of surrender.

With courage born of deep conviction, Paul battled tirelessly against evil forces trying to sabotage the advance of the Kingdom.

He challenged any philosophy exalting itself above the knowledge of God. Though battered, Paul kept fighting the good fight.

Enduring the Long Race

Paul also compared following Christ to running a grueling marathon. It demanded pacing oneself, resilience during difficulty, and endurance over the long haul.

Our race begins with passionate zeal but requires patient perseverance. Though tempted to coast or veer off course, we must stay true till the finish. Distractions, detours, obstacles and opposition make completing the race exhausting at times. Only through Christ are we empowered to endure.

Like Paul, we should run with joy and hope, not begrudgingly. Eyes fixed on Jesus, we weather every storm, knowing He will carry us across the line. Victory is assured if we do not give up.

Keeping the Faith

Most importantly, Paul kept the faith. He tenaciously held to his confession of Christ as Lord despite unrelenting pressure to recant. His heart remained wholly devoted to preaching the gospel entrusted to him.

Keeping the faith means refusing to compromise biblical truth for convenience, comfort or culture’s applause. It requires upholding sound doctrine and godly obedience when both come under fire.

By God’s strength, may we cling tightly to our faith as we run our race. Even facing death, Paul would not surrender this treasure he had fought so hard to defend.

Well Done, Good and Faithful Servant

Imagine Jesus greeting you one day with these words: “You fought courageously, ran faithfully and kept your faith. Well done, my good and faithful servant!”

May this envisioned reward from Christ’s lips inspire us to finish life’s marathon well. Keep running with perseverance and contending for the gospel no matter what enemies, trials or distractions are trying to stop you.

Stay faithful to the One who abundantly strengthens you. Then you too can say, “I have fought the good fight and finished my race. I have kept the faith.”

If you like these daily devotionals; you may be interested in our daily
“One Minute with God”
YouTube videos.

Posted by onthesolidrock in Daily Inspiration, Discipline, Faith
06
Dec
2023
Self Examination

Self Examination

2 Corinthians 13:5 – Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?

Heart Checkup

It’s easy to go through life without taking time to examine our inner self. Like neglecting routine health checkups, we may feel fine on the outside but have unchecked issues brewing on the inside.

That’s why this verse challenges us to take our spiritual pulse – to openly look within and evaluate the condition of our hearts.

Just as a doctor checks vital signs like heart rate and blood pressure, we need to regularly assess indicators of our spiritual health.

  • Are we pursuing intimacy with God through prayer, scripture and worship?
  • Do we readily repent when convicted of sin?
  • Are spiritual fruits like love, joy and peace evident in our lives?

Examining these aspects helps reveal the state of our connection to Christ.

Mirror Test

Introspection is difficult. We often avoid looking closely at our reflection in the mirror of God’s truth.

Careful self-examination may reveal complacency, pridefulness, or areas of disobedience. Yet scripture calls us to honestly assess ourselves in light of God’s standards.

His Word is a mirror that shows us who we really are.

This verse reminds us to hold ourselves accountable; we need God’s Spirit to reveal blind spots in our lives. His conviction leads to confession, keeping our hearts tender and responsive to His transforming work in us.

As we surrender to His lordship, our lives come into tune with His will and His ways.

Running Diagnostics

We don’t have to guess about the condition of our spiritual life. This passage encourages a diagnostic self-check, prompting raw honesty before God. Opening our hearts to His examination positions us for growth and change.

Ask God to search your heart and reveal anything that shouldn’t be there. Listen for His gentle conviction and willingly walk in repentance.

His Word promises that if we confess our sins, He is faithful to forgive and purify us. God longs for intimacy with us and obedience brings great joy to His heart.

1 John 1:9

As we run regular checkups on our spiritual health, we’ll experience fresh grace, renewed passion and the blessings of an unhindered relationship with Him.

The Great Physician

Ultimately this verse points us to Christ, the master healer of our souls. Only He can diagnose the deepest needs of our hearts and bring true transformation. His unfathomable love compels us to live fully for Him.

Actively pursue spiritual checkups as a vital part of your walk with God. His searching and cleansing light leads to wholeness, freedom and abundant life.

Your Great Physician stands ready to heal and restore your heart to the fullness He intended.

If you like these daily devotionals; perhaps you would be interested in our daily
“One Minute with God”
YouTube videos. Check them out!

Posted by onthesolidrock in Daily Inspiration, Discipline, Faith, Humility
04
Dec
2023
Rid Yourself of Sin

Rid Yourself of Sin

1 Peter 2:1 – Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.

Taking Out the Trash

As followers of Christ, we are called to actively root out, and toss away habitual sins that entangle us, just as we would bag up smelly trash.

Malice and Deceit

Malice is the fruit of nursing bitterness and ill-will toward others.

Deceit manifests in subtle lies, exaggerations, or hypocrisy that poisons relationships.

We must remove these.

Hypocrisy and Envy

Hypocrisy exists when our words don’t match our actions.

Envying what others have breeds discontentment with God’s gifts for our own life. We must discard these sins too!

Slander

Slander appears when we drag others’ names through the mud.

This sin murders reputations and destroys trust. Gossip must be crucified.

Christlike Character

As we cleanse our hearts of sinful patterns, godly virtues planted by the Spirit can flourish – kindness, integrity, contentment and grace, and so much more.

Lord, Reveal Sin in Me

Lord, shine Your spotlight into the recesses of my heart. Reveal any malice, deceit, envy, slander or hypocrisy, bring it to my attention so I can rid it from my life by the power of Your Holy Spirit. Replace it with Christlike character.

If you like these daily devotionals; perhaps you would be interested in our daily
“One Minute with God”
YouTube videos. Check them out!

Posted by onthesolidrock in Daily Inspiration, Discipline, Faith
02
Dec
2023
Rejecting Worldly Desires

Rejecting Worldly Desires

1 John 2:16 – For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.

Examine the Heart’s Desires

Sinful cravings arise in us when we allow our hearts to be shaped by the world, rather than God’s truth.

This verse exposes three of the primary temptations we will encounter.

Bodily Passions

The lust of the flesh refers to sensual appetites and passions.

If we repeatedly indulge fleshly desires, they can rule us. We must crucify these tendencies by the Holy Spirit.

Superficial Pursuits

Lust of the eyes represents envying what we see and chasing after things that do not satisfy – wealth, beauty, status. We must look beyond the superficial.

Empty Pride

Pride of life shows up when we boast in our achievements, material acquisitions, and social status, rather than humbly stewarding God’s gifts. We must find identity in Christ alone.

Anchored in Christ

As the world’s enticements call, we must cling tighter to Christ our anchor.

He frees and transforms those enslaved by temporary pleasures and priorities.

Guard My Heart

Lord, protect my heart from adopting the fleeting values of this world. Keep my desires aligned with Yours. When I’m tempted, anchor me firmly in Your truths. Fill me with Your Spirit that I may find joy in that which lasts.

If you enjoy these daily devotionals, you may be interested in our short One Minute With God daily audio and visual thought provoking Scripture snippets to get your day started.

Check them out at @faithupsidedown on YouTube.

Posted by onthesolidrock in Daily Inspiration, Discipline, Faith
31
Jul
2023
Blameless

Blameless

As we delve into today’s Scripture, we encounter a profound message about leadership and character.

An elder must be blameless, faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient (Titus 1:6)

It reminds us of the qualities that should be present in those who hold positions of authority and responsibility. It speaks to the importance of living a life of integrity and faithfulness, serving as an example to others.

The passage encourages us to examine the qualities of leaders, specifically focusing on the virtue of being “blameless.” This doesn’t mean perfection or never making mistakes, but rather a consistent commitment to living a life of righteousness and faith.

It challenges us to reflect on our own lives and consider whether we are modeling these qualities in our own spheres of influence.

In our world today, we often witness a lack of integrity and moral character among those in positions of power. But as followers of Christ, we are called to a higher standard. We are called to be people of integrity, displaying a character that reflects our faith in all aspects of our lives.

Our words, actions, and decisions should align with the teachings of Christ and demonstrate our commitment to truth, justice, and love.

Take this message to heart and endeavor to be blameless leaders, not just in formal positions of authority but also in our everyday lives. May our words and actions bear witness to the transforming power of Christ in us.

May our example inspire others to seek after righteousness and to follow in the footsteps of our blameless Savior.

Posted by onthesolidrock in Daily Inspiration, Discipline, Ministries