Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, "See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you." John 5:14 (NIV)

Okay, we’ve had some tough questions to consider in this series. Let’s recap. I’m asking you to consider, as Jesus did the paralytic, if you want to get well. Do you really want to improve your life and get rid of some of the junk of life? Do you want to heal the broken relationship, improve your finances, live healthier, do more for God, or be more faithful spiritually? The next question then is huge. Are you willing to do whatever it takes to make this happen in your life? Are you willing to make the sacrifices?

I talked with someone recently that is having tremendous financial problems, but they eat out at a nice restaurant every night? I don’t know about you, but I can save money when I eat more at home. Being in the ministry this is one of the sacrifices we’ve been forced to make. Are you willing to do what it takes?

Someone said to me last week that they wanted to improve their relationship with Christ, but when I suggested they get up 15 minutes earlier each day for Bible study and prayer they reminded me that they need their sleep! Okay, that’s fine, we all do, but my question is, are you willing to do what is required in order to accomplish what you say you want to accomplish? Fair question!

Once you have made the decision to move forward with what you say you want to do, you’ve made your New Year’s resolutions, and you think you are willing to do what it takes, you know what is next? You’ll have to keep doing it! If you choose to lose weight in 2006 and you decide that you need to exercise and eat less, you’ll have to continue to do that in February and beyond. You can’t quit after the first month.

If you are trying to give up an addiction, you won’t be able to go back to that thing you are addicted to. You’ll have to quit. You’ll have to have tenacity. You’ll have to be disciplined.

My prayer for you in 2006 is that you will have the courage and conviction to do the things you know you should do and that God is calling you to do. I’m praying that you stick with it and see it through! I’m praying you’ll quit trying to do it alone and allow Christ’s strength to be sufficient and that you’ll cast all your cares upon Him, because He cares for you!

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