What steps can we take to ensure we complete what we start for God? Setting the Scene Luke 14:30 describes observers who look at an unfinished tower and scoff, “This man could not finish what he started to build.” Jesus uses the image to warn against half-hearted discipleship. The goal is not just to begin for God, but to cross the finish line (2 Timothy 4:7). Counting the Full Cost • Luke 14:28-29—“Which of you, wanting to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost…?” • Honest assessment avoids later collapse. • Ask: What time, energy, finances, relationships, and habits will faithful obedience demand? • Factoring the cost ahead of time produces durable resolve. Grounding Every Plan in Scripture and Prayer • Proverbs 16:3—“Commit your works to the LORD and your plans will be achieved.” • Psalm 119:105—“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” • Daily intake of the Word aligns motives and methods with God’s revealed will. • Ongoing prayer invites divine guidance and mid-course corrections. Relying on Holy Spirit Power, Not Mere Willpower • Zechariah 4:6—“‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the LORD of Hosts.” • Philippians 2:13—“For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good purpose.” • Yielding to the Spirit transforms resolve from fragile determination into Spirit-empowered perseverance. Keeping the End in View • Hebrews 12:2—“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.” • Visualize the fruit God desires: disciples made, ministries established, lives changed. • Remember the eternal reward—“Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:23). Walking in Accountability • Ecclesiastes 4:9-10—“Two are better than one… If either of them falls, one can help the other up.” • Invite trustworthy believers to ask hard questions, celebrate progress, and intercede when fatigue sets in. • Hebrews 10:24—“Let us consider how to spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” Refusing to Be Entangled Again • 2 Timothy 2:4—“A soldier refrains from entangling himself in civilian affairs, so that he may please the One who enlisted him.” • Identify distractions—unnecessary commitments, sinful habits, misplaced priorities—and cut them loose. • Galatians 5:7—“You were running so well. Who has obstructed you from obeying the truth?” Celebrating Milestones and Giving Glory to God • Psalm 126:3—“The LORD has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.” • Mark completions, however small, with thanksgiving. Gratitude fuels fresh motivation. • Revelation 4:11—“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power.” Every finished task becomes a testimony to His faithfulness. Finishing Strong • Acts 20:24—“I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish my course and the ministry I have received from the Lord Jesus.” • A life that completes what it starts for God brings honor to His name and silences the scoffers of Luke 14:30. By counting the cost, anchoring in Scripture and prayer, relying on the Spirit, maintaining accountability, forsaking entanglements, and celebrating God’s help, we position ourselves to finish well. |
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