FINISHING WELL – STARTING FRESH

FINISHING WELL – STARTING FRESH
NEW YEAR’S – 2025
Vernon Zook December 29, 2024

Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins. -James 4:17 (NIV)

So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better. -Colossians 1:9-10 (NLT)

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. -Philippians 3:12-14 (NIV)

1. I stay focused on the in life.

VS 13 – “…But one thing I do…”

But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God. -Acts 20:24 (NLT)

2. I need to .

VS 14 – “…Forgetting what is behind…”

• Face Your .

Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed… -James 5:16a (NLT)

• Forgive the who have hurt you. 

Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. -Colossians 3:13 (NLT)

• Forge a new . 

VS 14 – “…straining toward what is ahead…”   

God is a God of do-overs – God of 2nd chances!

3. I live my life with and . 

VS 12&14 “I press on to take hold of…I press on toward the goal…” 

In all the work you are doing, work the best you can. Work as if you were doing it for the Lord, not for people. -Colossians 3:23 (NCV) 

Where do I start?
My Bible Reading                My Church
My Prayer Time                   My Service
My Health                             My Generosity
My Relationships                My Future

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. -2 Timothy 4:7 (NIV)