MEMORISE
I have fought the good fight of faith, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith (2 Timothy 4:7).
READ:
2 Timothy 4:1-8
[1]. I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom:
[2]. Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
[3]. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;
[4]. and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 5 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
[6]. For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand.
[7]. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
[8]. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
EXPOSITION
No fulfil something is to achieve what was hoped for, or expected. A fulfilled individual is one who feels happy, satisfied and excited that he/she has done something useful with his/her life. Success is one thing, fulfilment is another. One can be financially successful, and yet unfulfilled. There are people who did excellently well in their careers, but still discovered they were unfulfilled.
Fulfilment in Christian fold refers to doing and completing God's purpose for one's life in every ramification. To be fulfilled in life, one must faithfully finish that which God has for one's life. Otherwise, it is as bad as losing one's soul (cf. Matt. 16:26). Paul was a fulfilled man because he keyed into God's purpose and will (2 Tim. 4:7). Initially, he was a celebrated success in Judaism, an adept fundamentalist and a renowned legal luminary in the Mosaic legal system (Gal. 1: 13-14). He was thinking that he was on the right course, destiny-wise until he encountered the Lord Jesus Christ and began to grow in His knowledge. Only then did he begin to serve the purpose of God for his life, and God was glorified through him (Gal. 1: 24). Until God is glorified in, and through you, you are not being fulfilled! Lots of people come and leave this world, successful, famous, and record-breaking, yet they aren't fulfilling God's mandate for their lives. May that not be your lot, in Jesus' name. Amen.
SUGGESTED HYMN FOR TODAY:
CAC GHB 845
1. Fight the good fight with all thy might:
Christ is thy strength, and Christ thy right;
Lay hold on life, and it shall be
Thy joy and crown eternally.
2. Run the straight race through
God's good grace
Lift up thine eyes, and seek his face;
Life with its path before us lies;
Christ is the way, and Christ the prize.
3. Cast care aside; and on thy Guide
Lean, and his mercy will provide,
Lean, and the trusting soul shall prove
Christ is its life, and Christ its love.
4. Faint not, nor fear; his arm is near;
He changeth not, and thou art dear;
Only believe, and thou shalt see
That Christ is all in all to thee.
Amen.
PRAYER POINTS
1. Lord, endow me with Your sufficient grace to live a fulfilled life.
2. Lord, help me to follow the path that will lead me to the fulfilment of Your purpose for my life.
3. Lord, help our children to discover Your purpose for their lives, early enough, so that they won't waste their times chasing shadows in life.
EXTRA READING FOR TODAY:
Ezekiel 3-8
AUTHOR
CAC Worldwide
Remain blessed
 DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE DATE: Saturday, September 9, 2023 TOPIC: CHRISTIAN AND FULFILMENT){kind=link}