Daily Devotional
Are You Finishing Well?
“Moreover the Lord will also deliver Israel with you into the hand of the Philistines. And tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. The Lord will also deliver the army of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.”
1 Samuel 28:19
November 17, 2021
Ponder This
No man ever got a better start than King Saul. And no man ever had a sadder finish than King Saul. When we first meet King Saul in the Bible as a young man, he’s handsome. He’s winsome. He’s courteous. He’s humble. He’s thoughtful. But as we continue through the Bible, we find he becomes a bitter, envious, murderous, wicked, old man. He died by his own hand. He died sadly, piteously, and embarrassingly.
But we should learn from Saul because the thing that happened to Saul could happen to any person. He gave himself over to certain influences, and the devil moved in, and in Saul, we see the finished product of the devil’s art. As the Bible reminds us at many points, it’s not how you start but how you finish. Saul had the right start, but he finished poorly because he turned away from God.
- When was a time you started something well but finished poorly?
- Would you say your life is moving toward God over time or away from Him? What needs to change?
Practice This
Write out a list of your priorities. Write what really matters to you (not what you think should matter). Objectively review this list and assess whether these priorities will move you closer to or further away from God.
FOR YOUR GIFT TO THE MINISTRY
Front Porch Moments by Gayle Foster
WITH KEY INSIGHTS FROM HER FATHER, ADRIAN ROGERS
I try to unplug each morning with Jesus with just my rocking chair, my Bible, and a pen.
Having a secret place is very important because I know that Jesus is always there waiting for me. I know where I can find Him! His presence is everywhere, but there are places where it is so thick you can cut it with a knife. You may not even have a front porch, but there is a secret place for you as well. God’s invitations are for anyone who will respond. There is no more important request than the one found in Psalm 27:8: “My heart has heard You say, ‘Come and talk with Me.’ And my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming.’”
