Don't Quit
1. Encouragement To Keep On Keeping On
Do you ever get tired of doing the right thing? Don't quit. Are you busy here and there, taking care of family, and putting food on the table, and sometimes you wonder if anyone even notices? Don't quit. Do you push yourself to get up and get dressed to go to Sunday school and church? Don't quit. Paul tells us in II Thessalonians 3:13, "But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing." The great apostle knew that we all grow weary, but he was trying to encourage his brothers and sisters in Christ. And that is what I want to try to do with this new devotional. I want to encourage you to keep on keeping on. We are so close to the finish line... so don't quit.
2. Keep The Faith
When Paul got near the end of his life he was able to say, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:" (II Timothy 4:7) I want to be able to say that. I believe that we can look at the scriptures which describe the last days, and it seems like they are being fulfilled before our eyes. I want to encourage you today to keep the faith. In the next verse, Paul tells young Timothy, "Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing." The Lord has laid up rewards for us. It would be so sad, to get so close, and then lose our reward in the end. Keep the faith. In the last book of the Bible, all the way to the last chapter, Jesus wants to encourage us, and He said, "And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be." (Revelation 22:12) Keep the faith!
3. Labor Day
Today we can celebrate and take a rest from our labors. Well, many can. Some are even taking a vacation, maybe for a few days, or maybe for a week. It is great to have a day off school, or to get a day off work, but for some it is like any other day. I am thinking about the ones who are the primary care giver for someone they love, and they will continue working today, just as they do every other day. There are also Moms and Dads who still get up early with their children and still feed them and clean up after them, just as they did yesterday, and they will plan to do it all again tomorrow, and they may even forget what day it is because every day is so much the same. We also rely on people in the medical fields, and they are working today, because the hospitals never close. There are many people who are working today. So, if you are able to have this day for rest and relaxation I am happy for you. And, if you are working, doing what you always do, I want to encourage you to do what you do for the glory of the Lord. "And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him." (Colossians 3:17) "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." (I Corinthians 15:58) It will be worth it all when we see Jesus!
4. Don't Quit Rejoicing
I have found that as I read my Bible, the Holy Spirit often sheds new light on the verses, depending on how my heart and mind are focused on my devotional theme. I have read the fifth chapter of I Thessalonians many times, and even used several of the verses as memory verses for my children when they were small. As I am reading through the books written by the Apostle Paul, I see many verses in which he is telling the churches not to quit. Look at these verses...
"16 Rejoice evermore.
17 Pray without ceasing.
18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." (I Thessalonians 5:16-18)
In each of these verses Paul is encouraging them to keep on keeping on. Today we will look at verse 16, "Rejoice evermore." Can we say that "evermore" means "for ever and ever"? We could even say that he means "always", as he says in Philippians 4:4, "Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice." He is encouraging us to keep on rejoicing! Last week we saw how the shepherds rejoiced when they saw Baby Jesus, and they kept on rejoicing so that everyone they met wondered at the things they told them. Do you remember how you rejoiced when you first met the Lord Jesus and the burden of sin was lifted away? In the book of Psalms King David prayed, "Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit." (Psalm 51:12) If somewhere along the way we quit rejoicing, we can pray this Psalm and ask the Lord to restore our joy. God can give you that joy, joy, joy, joy, down in your heart, so that it overflows out to everyone you meet.
5. Don't Quit Praying
We are moving on to the next verse, I Thessalonians 5:17, "Pray without ceasing." Again, we see that Paul is telling them not to quit. He told them not to quit rejoicing, and now he is encouraging them to keep on praying. My sister lives on the coast and may be in the path of Hurricane Dorian. I am praying for her safety and for those around her. There are many times when we can't help someone physically, or financially, or in any other way, but we can always pray. Where there seems to be no way, God can make a way. Paul not only encouraged the church to continue praying, but he also showed them his faith in prayer as he asked them to pray for him. "Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:" (II Thessalonians 3:1) And in his letter to the church at Ephesus he prayed, "Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen." (Ephesians 3:20-21) Don't quit praying. I close with this encouraging verse from Jeremiah 33:3, "Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not."
6. Don't Quit Being Thankful
Our verse today brings us to Thanksgiving. "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." (I Thessalonians 5:18) Once again Paul is reminding us to keep on giving thanks. I am looking forward to Thanksgiving. It is great to be with our family and enjoy our special meal together, while taking time to be thankful. But, we don't have to wait until Thanksgiving to be thankful. We can have an attitude of gratitude all year long. In his long list to Timothy about the sinfulness that will be in the last days, Paul includes being unthankful.
"1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away." (II Timothy 3:1-5)
How long are we to keep being thankful? For ever and ever! "Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen." (Revelation 7:12)
7. Don't Quit Reading Your Bible
As I moved in my daily reading from Thessalonians where the Apostle Paul encouraged the church not to quit rejoicing, praying, and giving thanks, I came to his letters to Timothy. I noticed that he encouraged Timothy to keep on reading the Word of God. The Bible is the living Word of God and He speaks to us through His Word. The Apostle Paul explained the importance of the scripture to Timothy. "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." (II Timothy 3:16-17) Paul also told Timothy to keep reading the Word of God. "Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine... Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; ... Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee." (a portion of I Timothy 4:13-16) We are living in dark times, but we have His Word to be a light unto our way. "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." (Psalm 119:105) I want to encourage you today, don't quit reading your Bible. The more you read, the more understanding the Lord will give to you.
8. Don't Quit Standing
We are still in the letters written by the Apostle Paul to the early churches. Today we see his encouragement to keep on standing. Paul tells them to take on the whole armor of God so that they can stand against the darkness of this world. I like Ephesians 6:13 and 14, "Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore..." First, he says, "having done all, to stand." Sometimes it takes all we have to stand. We muster all the courage and strength and determination we have just to take a stand. What does Paul tell us next? "Stand therefore..." After we have given all we've got to stand, don't quit standing. If we stand against evil in this day we will be ridiculed, but, even so, God is looking for some men and women to take a stand, and stand therefore. So, put on your armor, put your trust in the Lord, and don't quit standing.
"10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;" (Ephesians 6:10-18)
9. Don't Quit Going To Church
Back in the 70s I heard people say that they would not let communism keep them from going to church. I am thankful that in America we still have the freedom to worship our God, unlike many foreign countries. But many that boasted those words years ago, have stopped going to church, without the threat of outside forces. The writer of Hebrews encourages us to keep on attending our worship services. "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." (Hebrews 10:25) It is true that we can read and study the Bible at home. But attending church gives us so much more. Our pastors and teachers can give us insight and understanding to God's precious Word. We can fellowship with our Christian friends in God's house. We can be an example to those around us that church is important in our lives. I hope that you are faithful to the house of the Lord and can say with David, "I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD." (Psalm 122:1) There are many who are in bad health and can no longer go to church, and there are those with important jobs that keep them from going, but for those who are able I hope that you will keep going to church.
10. Don't Quit Singing Praises To Our God
Saturday evening I opened the laundry room door to get my clothes out of the dryer and I heard a cricket. It sounded like it was near the trash can so I moved it around to look behind it, and the noise stopped. It reminded me of a time years ago when we went on vacation and every night when we went to bed we heard a cricket in the kitchen. About the third night the boys had had enough and went into the kitchen and emptied every pot and pan from under the sink. They never did find the cricket, so we had to put up with the noise the entire week. I didn't have it so hard Saturday. When I went back to look for the bug it sounded like it was in the trash can so I took it out into the garage, poured the contents onto the floor, and watched it spring out into the yard. Crickets sing because that is what God created them to do. There are many, many verses which tell us to sing praise unto the Lord. We read in Psalm 104:33, "I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being." Don't quit singing praises to God. When the Pharisees complained that the people were rejoicing and praising God, Jesus said, "I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out." (Luke 19:40) We have several examples in the scriptures of God's creation singing His praises. God asked Job where he was, "When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?" (Job 38:7) Keep on praising the Lord!
"Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD." (Psalm 150:6)
"For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands." (Isaiah 55:12)
"Sing, O ye heavens; for the LORD hath done it: shout, ye lower parts of the earth: break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein: for the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel." (Isaiah 44:23)
"Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together" (Psalm 98:7-8)
"But I am the LORD thy God, that divided the sea, whose waves roared: The LORD of hosts is his name." (Isaiah 51:15)
"The floods have lifted up, O LORD, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves." (Psalm 93:3)
"By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches." (Psalm 104:12)
"7 But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee:
8 Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee.
9 Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this?
10 In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind." (Job 12:7-10)
11. Don't Quit Praising The Lord
There is another Psalm that I want to share today about the realm of nature praising the Lord. One day we will all bow on our knees and confess that Jesus is Lord. "For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God." (Romans 14:11) And we will praise the Lord in heaven. "And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great. And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth." (Revelation 19:5-6) I am ready for that day to come.
"1 Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the LORD from the heavens: praise him in the heights.
2 Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts.
3 Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light.
4 Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens.
5 Let them praise the name of the LORD: for he commanded, and they were created.
6 He hath also stablished them for ever and ever: he hath made a decree which shall not pass.
7 Praise the LORD from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps:
8 Fire, and hail; snow, and vapour; stormy wind fulfilling his word:
9 Mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars:
10 Beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl:
11 Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth:
12 Both young men, and maidens; old men, and children:
13 Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven.
14 He also exalteth the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints; even of the children of Israel, a people near unto him. Praise ye the LORD." (Psalm 148)
12. Don't Quit Praying For Our Nation
I was only 3 1/2 years old when President John F. Kennedy was shot. I was too young to understand what had happened, but I still remember everyone being so upset by the news broadcast. Some things you don't forget. Many of us today still remember the attacks on America on 9/11/01. We remember where we were and what we were doing. We remember the uncertainty of it all. We remember watching the news footage over and over again. We remember not knowing where or when it would end. We said that we wouldn't forget, and we haven't. But, a new generation has been born and grown up since that day. That was in 2001, and it has been 18 years, so those under twenty years old can't remember the fear and anger. They can't remember how America stood together and turned to God in prayer. I believe that we need prayer for our country more today than we did during that tragic event. Don't quit praying for our nation. We have a sad prophecy of truth in Isaiah 59:1-2. "Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear." But, God also gives us a precious promise in II Chronicles 7:14, "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." Keep on praying for our country.
13. Don't Quit Loving One Another
Do you know what the most distinguishing feature about a Chistian is? It's not how we dress. It's not even how we talk or act, although those are important. Being a Christian is not just going to church on Sundays. Jesus said "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." (John 13:34-35) Jesus told the disciples that people will know we are Christians by our love. Love is also the center of the two greatest commandments. "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:30-31) Think about how much greater our world would be if we all loved God and had love for each other. Our encouraging verse today is found in Hebrews 13:1. "Let brotherly love continue."
14. Daniel Didn't Quit Praying
We have been following our theme on "Don't Quit" for almost two weeks, and now we are going to look at some people in the Bible who didn't quit. One of my favorites is Daniel. In the beginning of the book of Daniel, we find him taken captive by King Nebuchadnezzar from Jerusalem, to Babylon. Even as a young boy, Daniel was determined to stay faithful to God. "But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself." (Daniel 1:8) Having learned about Daniel as a child, I thought he was still a young person when he was thrown into the den of lions. After I was old enough to study the book of Daniel I realized that Daniel was under foreign leadership during the reigns of Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, Darius, and Cyrus, most likely for the full 70 years when King Cyrus allowed a remnant of the Jewish people to return to Jerusalem. When Daniel was thrown into the den of lions under King Darius he may have been 75, 85, or even 95 years old. Even though he was in a strange land, under Gentile rule, he didn't quit praying to his God. "Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime." (Daniel 6:10) Daniel didn't quit praying even when he knew that he would be thrown into the den of lions. Daniel knew the prayer of King Solomon and he prayed towards Jerusalem. Let's keep praying and stay faithful to our loving God and Savior.
"36 If they sin against thee, (for there is no man which sinneth not,) and thou be angry with them, and deliver them over before their enemies, and they carry them away captives unto a land far off or near;
37 Yet if they bethink themselves in the land whither they are carried captive, and turn and pray unto thee in the land of their captivity, saying, We have sinned, we have done amiss, and have dealt wickedly;
38 If they return to thee with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, whither they have carried them captives, and pray toward their land, which thou gavest unto their fathers, and toward the city which thou hast chosen, and toward the house which I have built for thy name:
39 Then hear thou from the heavens, even from thy dwelling place, their prayer and their supplications, and maintain their cause, and forgive thy people which have sinned against thee." (II Chronicles 6:36-39)
15. Caleb Didn't Quit Seeking God's Promised Land
Caleb was one of the twelve spies who went to look over the land of Canaan after the Israelites left Egypt. He and Joshua were the only two who had faith that God would give them the land as He had promised. The other ten complained about the giants in the land and discouraged the people. "And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it." The people refused. God told them that they would have to wander in the wilderness for forty years, and all of the people from twenty years old and upward would die during those forty years, except for Caleb and Joshua. After the death of Moses, Joshua took his place to lead the children of Israel into the Promised Land. And Caleb was finally able to get his mountain when he was 85 years old! He didn't quit seeking God's Promised Land.
"6 Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite said unto him, Thou knowest the thing that the LORD said unto Moses the man of God concerning me and thee in Kadeshbarnea.
7 Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadeshbarnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart.
8 Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the LORD my God.
9 And Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children's for ever, because thou hast wholly followed the LORD my God.
10 And now, behold, the LORD hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the LORD spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old.
11 As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in.
12 Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said.
13 And Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh Hebron for an inheritance.
14 Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite unto this day, because that he wholly followed the LORD God of Israel.
15 And the name of Hebron before was Kirjatharba; which Arba was a great man among the Anakims. And the land had rest from war." (Joshua 15:6-15)
16. Noah Didn't Quit
Can you imagine where you would be today if Noah had quit? God told Noah to build the ark and gather the animals to take into the ark. It had never rained before, but "Noah walked with God" and he believed God. (Genesis 6:9) In Genesis 6:22 we read, "Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he." Again, in Genesis 7:5 the Bible says, "And Noah did according unto all that the LORD commanded him." Noah worked. Noah witnessed while he worked. Peter tells us that Noah was "a preacher of righteousness" and only 8 souls were saved. Noah waited while the rains fells and the ark rose high above the mountain tops. And I believe Noah wept. The flood came and his brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, cousins and neighbors, were all swept away. And when it was all over, he worshiped. Because of Noah's faithfulness to keep on following God's Word, we are here today. So, in a sense, even though he was responsible for saving only 8 people, he saved the future of the whole world. Don't quit. You don't know who may decide to follow Jesus because of your walk, your work, your witness, your waiting, your witnessing, your weeping, and your worship. Don't quit.
17. Luke Didn't Quit
As I was reading the New Testament looking for people who didn't quit on the Lord I noticed a contrast in two of Paul's letters. First, look at Colossians 4:14, "Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you." The Apostle is giving his salutation and he mentions two men who are faithful helpers in his ministry. Again, in Philemon, they are both mentioned. "Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers." (verse 14) But, when we read his final letter to Timothy, we see that Paul is asking Timothy to come to him and bring his cloke ("Do thy diligence to come before winter." vs. 21) his books, and the parchments. I can hear the discouragement in his words as he tells Timothy, "Only Luke is with me." Luke stuck with him. We see that Demas left the ministry, but Luke didn't quit. Don't quit your work in the ministry. You may not realize who is depending on you. You may not know until you get to heaven how many people you helped along the way. Stay faithful, and don't quit.
"9 Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me:
10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.
11 Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry." (II Timothy 4:9-11)
18. The Apostle Paul Didn't Quit
I started this devotional series looking at Paul's letters to the churches. He encouraged the believers not to quit, even through trials and tribulations. He told them to continue in prayer, rejoicing, and being thankful. When we come to his second letter to Timothy, we see that Paul didn't quit. "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:" (II Timothy 4:7) Paul suffered through great trials, but he didn't quit. "Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry." (II Timothy 4:11) We also see that he has made amends with John Mark. There was a problem when Barnabas wanted to take Mark on their missionary journey, and Paul didn't want him to go because he had left them on a prior trip. "And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus; And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God." (Acts 15:39-40) Now, towards the end of his life he puts away the strife and says, "he is profitable to me for the ministry." Sometimes we need to do more than just, not quit. In several places Paul told the churches how to live a Christian life. "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." (Ephesians 4:31-32) In the 13th chapter of I Corinthians Paul explains that without love, we are nothing. So, as we continue with these examples that encourage us not to quit, let's make sure we do everything we do through the love of Jesus Christ.
19. Mary Didn't Quit
I was thinking about our Biblical examples of people who didn't quit and I realized that I had not shown any women. So, today we are going to look at the most well known woman of the Bible, Mary, the mother of Jesus. We meet Mary when the the Angel Gabriel appeared to her and told her that she would be the mother of the Son of God. "And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her." (Luke 1:38) She went to see her cousin Elisabeth who would soon give birth to John the Baptist, who would prepare the way for the Lord. "And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed." (Luke 1:46-48) Luke gives us the story of the birth of Jesus and when the shepherds came, and told them that the angels had sent them to Bethlehem we read that people wondered, "But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart." (Luke 1:19) We not only see Mary at the birth of Christ, but we see her at His death. Mary didn't quit being His mother. She stayed with Him, and Jesus made sure she was taken care of. He appointed John, the disciple whom he loved, to care for His mother and knowing that she would need someone to take His place, He said, "Woman, behold thy son!" Our children grow up and move on, but we never quit being their mother.
"26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!
27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.
28 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst." (John 19:26-28)
20. "Don't Quit"
I sat down at my computer to type our devotional and my daughter had posted this old poem, "Don't Quit". It was written by John Greenleaf Whittier (1807 - 1892). I think we all have days when we get discouraged and we might say things like, "I just give up!", or "I quit!" Elijah was on the top of Mount Carmel with a great victory one day, and the next day he left his servant behind and ran for his life. "But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers." (I Kings 19:4) God let him rest, and fed him, and spoke to him in a still small voice. God let him know that He still had work to do. And when it was time for Elijah to go, God carried him to heaven in a chariot of fire. (II Kings 2:11) In times of discouragement when you want to quit, remember that you are not alone, take time to rest and eat, listen for God's still small voice, and don't quit.
Don't Quit
When things go wrong as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all up hill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest if you must, but don't you quit.
Life is strange with its twists and turns
As every one of us sometimes learns
And many a failure comes about
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don't give up though the pace seems slow—
You may succeed with another blow.
Success is failure turned inside out—
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell just how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far;
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit—
It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.
For all the sad words of tongue or pen
The saddest are these: "It might have been!"
21. Hold Fast To What You Have
We are winding down our devotions on, "Don't Quit" and today I want to talk about some of the reasons to keep on keeping on. Ruth didn't quit on Naomi or her God and she had a son who was the grandfather of King David. Mordecai and Esther didn't quit and they delivered the Jews from being destroyed. Moses didn't quit and he led the Israelites out of Egypt and across the wilderness. John didn't quit and he was given the vision of the Revelation of Jesus Christ. We have a promise that Jesus will be with us until the end. "Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." (Matthew 28:20) The Word of God encourages us not to quit, and to hold fast to what we have.
"Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown." (Revelation 3:11)
"23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." (Hebrews 10:23-25)
"Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." (I Thessalonians 5:21)
"Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle." (II Thessalonians 2:15)
"Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus." (II Timothy 1:13)
"But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end." (Hebrews 3:6)
"14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:14-16)
22. Jesus Didn't Quit
This is our final devotion in our series, "Don't Quit." For three weeks we have been encouraged through God's Word to keep on keeping on. Do you want to know why I chose this theme? It is because I get discouraged and sometimes I feel so overwhelmed a little voice tells me to just quit. As I type these devotionals, trying to be an encouragement to others, my gracious Lord encourages me. It is through Him that we find the courage and strength to keep on keeping on. Our verse today is found in Galatians 6:9, "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." I sat to write my devotions today and checked my email while my app loaded. I received a very encouraging email from a reader who told me in part... "You don't quit! We can't quit! Your devotions are so encouraging! I have received (via email) your daily devotions for years and have shared them with many. There is much work to do ... we can't quit!" Thank you, Denise, for the kind words.
Our final example of someone who didn't quit is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! He never committed any sin, but He suffered and died to pay for my sin. He gave His life on a cruel cross because He loved us so much. As He hung on the cross the people cried out, "He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him." (Matthew 27:42) Jesus could have saved himself, but He chose to give His life for mine. If you have never asked Jesus to save you, I hope that you will call to Him in prayer before it is too late.
Admit that you are lost. "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" (Romans 3:26)
Believe that Jesus is the only begotten Son of God and that He died to pay for your sin.
"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)
"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23)
Confess your sin to Jesus and ask Him to forgive you and He will save you and give you eternal life in heaven.
"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation... For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Romans 10:9, 10, & 13)
