When Getting by Isn’t Good Enough

And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”

─ Luke 10:25-28 ESV

Was there ever a time you stopped believing you could make it in life? That’s probably not a fair question, but there’s many who are more willing to give up than to pursue what they know God has for them. That kind of attitude is so far removed from how God wants any of us to feel. In fact, Paul said, “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (ESV).

There is a “great divide” between accomplishment and mediocrity in life—a line for each of us that represents a point where we must make a decision, and then take action. The truth is, we are often letting the world go by. That’s not what God intended. He has so much more for you and me. Our lives should be based on the principle found in Ephesians 5:10: figure out what will please Christ, and then do it. That principle not only involves information or direction, but it involves action.

Jesus shows us that pattern in Luke 10:25-28, when a lawyer asked Jesus what he needed to do to be saved. Jesus’ response required action on the lawyer’s part. That’s the same message God has for us today. A big part of our lives—the separating point between just getting by and really living in the success we’re looking for spiritually—comes down to taking action.

Today’s One Thing

Have you ever reached a certain place in life, where you were right there, right at the edge and you didn’t act? Instead of pressing in, you backed off? Pray and ask God to give you another chance to take the final step that will catapult you right into the success God has for you.

Receive Devotionals like This in Your Email