Wanna give up?

Posted on September 21, 2023 by Elizabeth Welte in Victory Call

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9

“Wanna give up?”  That was the question posed by Pastor one Sunday during his sermon.  As I contemplated the question, I wondered what that would actually look like. There are times in all our lives we probably are tempted to quit.  But in regards to our walk with Christ, seriously what would it look like?

The obvious answer is turning from a belief in Jesus Christ to atheism – a lack of belief or a strong disbelief in the existence of a god or any gods.[i] That would surely qualify as quitting, giving up. But blood-bought, redeemed, regenerated, saved children of God who have been born of God are held by the very One that ransomed them.[ii]

That’s not really my point today, my question is this: Are there less dramatic ways we “give up/quit” on our faith?

Have we given up in more subtle ways like:

  • Being more engaged and distracted by things of the world?
  • Allowing our heart to grow cold?
  • Not fighting temptation anymore?
  • No longer confessing sin regularly?
  • Hardening our heart to the promptings of the Holy Spirit?
  • No longer choosing obedience?
  • Seeking to live the Christian life on our own, isolated from community either physically or emotionally?
  • Not seeking Him or His wisdom and guidance from His Word?
  • Failing to recognize the pride of our prayerlessness?

In the ebb and flow of my Christian walk, I have seen myself “give up” in every one of these ways at different times in my life. How about you? When we become aware of subtle ways we have ‘given up’ in our faith, let’s seek the face of God to reignite our passion for Him.

I’m sure we both want to finish well, right?  To finish well, we need to finish every day well, every month well and every year well.

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.  I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing. 2 Timothy 4:6-8

For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 1 John 5:4

 

[i] https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/atheism accessed 8.20.18

[ii] John 10:28-29 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.

 

Written by Diane Hunt: Diane Hunt serves on the board of America’s Keswick and is the Executive Director & CEO of Changed Choices, a Christian non-profit in North Carolina. She is also a biblical counselor and women’s event speaker. For more information about having Diane speak at your next event please contact her at dhunt@americaskeswick.org.


Think About This:  “[W]e can choose to praise Jesus through any darkness that might befall us. Doing so does not mean that our troubling circumstances will go away; it means that the prison of heaviness we feel because of them will.” ― Kim Meeder

The Daily Bible Reading: Daniel 7-8. You can download our 2023 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here. 

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:  And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.” Hebrews 9:22

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