DAILY DEVOTION, April 8, 2022

He who endures to the end shall be saved (Mark 13:13).

Do you ever look back on your life and have regrets? I do. My father was an accomplished musician on the piano. He wanted to teach me to play the piano. I learned to play “Swans on the Lake” in the John Thompson introductory piano book. I was more interested in sports as a child, so I dropped out after a few lessons. Oh, how I wish I had stayed with it. I would love to be able to play the piano. I did not endure for very long!

In our text, Jesus encourages us to endure until the end of life. Therefore, we do not want to begin the Christian life and then drop out. Will dropouts be saved? Yes, if they return to faith. Peter denied Jesus but then returned to the faith. Those who claim to be Christians but then abandon the faith altogether return to their lost position. Those who trust in Jesus and then endure to the end will certainly be saved. I lost the blessings of playing the piano because I did not endure. Do not lose the blessings that accompany faith in Jesus by failing to endure.

Father, thank You for your patience with me. But unfortunately, I am not always as faithful as I should be. Thank You that my salvation depends not on my performance but on Your mercy. When my life comes to an end, I want to be able to say, “Jesus, I still trust You.” I want to endure to the end. I pray in the name of my wonderful Savior, Jesus, Amen.