We need a fresh supply of God's grace each day.

Let me give you a picture of where we are going for the next two weeks. I
am going to write a series on people in the Bible that started well but did
not finish well. Next week, Stephanie will share a series on people in the
Bible that started poorly but finished well. Then we will cap off the week
with encouragement to live daily so we can finish well; a call to be
overcomers and delight in the promises of what is yet to be.

"His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were
faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter
into the joy of your lord.'"

Matthew 25:21

Recently, I was speaking at a women's retreat on the topic of
perseverance and was thinking through Biblical illustrations. In doing so,
I realized there are numerous individuals that started well but did not
finish well. It is unlikely that they heard these words from Matthew 25
when they met the Lord.

The first person that comes to mind is Samson. He started well.
Judges 13:24-25, "So the woman bore a son and called his name Samson; and
the child grew, and the LORD blessed him. And the Spirit of the LORD began
to move upon him at Mahaneh Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol."

But He did not finish well. Judges 16:18-20, "When Delilah saw that
he (Samson) had told her all his heart, she sent and called for the lords of
the Philistines, saying, "Come up once more, for he has told me all his
heart." So the lords of the Philistines came up to her and brought the money
in their hand. Then she lulled him to sleep on her knees, and called for a
man and had him shave off the seven locks of his head. Then she began to
torment him, and his strength left him. And she said, "The Philistines are
upon you, Samson!" So he awoke from his sleep, and said, "I will go out as
before, at other times, and shake myself free!" But he did not know that the
LORD had departed from him."

Lest we loose our way, remember we need a fresh supply of God's grace each
day. We need to avail ourselves of His grace, daily, and not try to live
off yesterday's victory.

"And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always
having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good
work." 2 Corinthians 9:8

Diane