Finish Strong!

You know one of the greatest blessings in my life? Having some elderly friends. Some godly elderly friends. That challenges me, you know?

I was thinking today about sanctification. I think the easy part of the Christian walk for me was realizing I was a sinner in need of a saviour. (Goodness, I didn't have to be a rocket scientist to figure that part out! Even on my best days, I'm still pretty wretched.) What's been harder, though, is the act of being sanctified. Of becoming more like Christ, and the changes in my life and habits that the process requires sometimes. I'll find myself not sharing Christ at times, or wishing I could participate in something I shouldn't because some friends are, or just plain being a hot head, and I find myself in the same old battles against the same old me that Jesus loved enough to redeem. And I wonder why.

God's been gracious to me, though. In my life, there are quite a few examples of people who have done it. They have stayed faithful to their First Love, and even in their twilight years serve as salt and light to others.

One of them is my autistic buddy, Bill. I love that guy. I met him when he was a custodian at my job, and though he drove me nuts at first, I quickly realized there is not a more loyal, loving soul on this Earth. He won me over easily, and has since won over my entire family. And, well, the whole city, too. The guy's got more friends in more places than Verizon. Every single day, like clockwork, he calls and leaves a message on our answering machine. He starts talking before the beep, though, so every single day here's what we hear: "God bless you! I think about you every day! You're my little Amy, like a sister to me. Go, Cards! Ok, bye now." Wow. Does it get any better than that??

There are others, too. Neeny's friend, Bonnie, who still calls every month and keeps a prayer journal with my name in it that has checkmarks trailing behind--a check for each time she's prayed for me. Some dear friends from church whom I've known since I was a baby. And tonight, we met a new one: the sweetest little lady that we went to visit on behalf of the homebound ministry. She was precious, with a smile in her eyes the whole time we were there, and we can't wait to get to know her better!

When I'm thinking about sanctification, and the rough edges that have to go in my own life, it encourages me to think that maybe one day I'll be able to bless others like these friends of mine do. I hope so, anyway. Thinking about these folks and desiring to be more of what Christ wants me to be, too, helps me to pray to become more like Him, to become more of who I need to be for His glory. I have such a long, long way to go. Ultimately, though, when it's all said and done, I just want to have used my days to give glory to the Lord in some small way.

Philippians 3:12-4:1

12Not 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. 13Brothers, 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, 14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

15All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

17Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. 18For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. 20But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

4:1Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends!