About six months ago, really I have lost track now, I started having trouble with the sciatic nerve in my right leg. At the beginning I wasn’t sure what it was, but I kept praying it would go away. After several months I finally went to the doctor and had it confirmed, and she said I didn’t have to live with it like that, and physical therapy was suggested, so I jumped at the opportunity.

How many of you know that when you are living with pain, it affects your everyday life in many ways, including your thought process and attitude? I was not having an easy time of it, and it was so hard to sit still. Sitting in the wrong chair caused pain, the longer I sat the more pain I experienced. When I stood up and walked sometimes my leg would want to give way. Sitting to read my bible was so hard. That suffered too.

Doing exercises in the area of your body that is hurting, is the hardest thing I believe I have ever had to do. I sympathize with those who have had surgery, and then have had to recover through hard work. So, I have gone to therapy and tried my best with exercises at home, and after one month of therapy, I was so discouraged. It just didn’t seem like I was making much headway. But, that’s when you just can’t quit and give up. The one month evaluation came up not long ago, and I asked the Lord if I should take another month of therapy. He said yes, it would make me stronger, so I did, and I now I am the better for it.

I relate this event in my life as an illustration of what the Lord is saying to you today, it is time to “GO ON TO PERFECTION.”

“And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard (the word of God), go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience,” Luke 8:14-15 (KJV).

The seed is the word of God, and as it fell, it fell among thorns (irritation or trouble in life), and because they only heard the word, but did not keep it, there was no profit from the hearing. We all have difficulties in life of one sort or another, and I have no doubt that we as Christians are reading our bibles, but the word of God can’t just be heard, it must be RECEIVED AND KEPT for fruit to come from it.

When I went to the doctor and she suggested therapy, I could have walked away saying it was too hard or too expensive, or too…. an excuse. But I received the counsel, and submitted myself to the work ahead.

It’s time for you to do the same. It’s time to GO ON. Stop putting off what the Lord has laid upon your heart. Take the counsel and guidance of the Holy Spirit that He has been showing you in His word, and GO ON TO PERFECTION.

Your enemy, the devil, comes like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. Don’t become his next dinner meal by allowing the cares of this world, or the deceitfulness of riches, or pleasures of this life choke the word, choke His plans for you, choke your joy and life in Him…. then you will become unfruitful. Listen to the word of God, and understand and keep it, and fruit will come forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty, Matthew 13:22-23.

“Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us GO ON UNTO PERFECTION; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,” Hebrews 6:1 (KJV).

Some of you are still hanging around the cross, around the beginning things. These are so important, yes, but there is more He has for you. Don’t quit or give up because you think it’s too hard……….

The word PERFECTION is completeness, of full age, finish, fulfill, make perfect. Now God Himself is our completer, our consummate, the “author and finisher of our faith.” He wants us to come to maturity in our walk and it is Him that finishes the work in us, but He must have cooperation from you.

Remember the therapy I went through for my leg. It was an exercise, a training, they were showing me how to be strong and how to stay strong, and, when I am finished with it, I have to continue with what I have learned on my own, otherwise I will be right back where I started. To stay in and finish this race of faith, it will take perseverance, diligence, endurance, and faith in God. It will take your all. AND YOU CAN DO IT. You are more than a conqueror through Christ who loves you and gave Himself for you.

“But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that every one of you do shew the same DILIGENCE to the full assurance of hope unto the end: That ye BE NOT SLOTHFUL, but followers of them who through FAITH AND PATIENCE inherit the promises. For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. And so, AFTER HE PATIENTLY ENDURED, he obtained the promise,” Hebrews 6:9-15 (KJV).

With God’s help You can do it. It’s time to stand up and fight. Don’t allow the events of the world, or the cares of your life stop you from realizing His dream for you. Don’t back down because it is all superficial with no real meaning, the substance is Christ.

See also: Esther 8; Job 8:14-5; 2 Timothy 2:3; Hebrews 12:2.

The Lord says today,

“Don’t be discouraged, but encouraged, for I AM on your side.

I know the beginning from the end and everything in the middle, so put your trust in Me.

I even I know the way. Take comfort for I have overcome the world. Do not despair for I AM already there.

Do not lose heart but invest in our future together. It is a bright beautiful path that only leads upward to Me.

I have invested in you, now invest in what I have given to you.

It’s free, no cost, paid in full, and I love you.”

“All mankind is divided into three classes, those that are immovable, those that are movable and those that move,” Benjamin Franklin.

Which kind are you?

 
~ Celeste Dewey

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Celeste Dewey