finishing well

⁷I have fought the good fight. I have completed the course. I have preserved the faith.

²⁴But I dread none of these things. Neither do I consider my life to be more precious because it is my own, provided that in some way I may complete my own course and that of the ministry of the Word, which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the Gospel of the grace of God.

¹Furthermore, since we also have so great a cloud of witnesses over us, let us set aside every burden and sin which may surround us, and advance, through patience, to the struggle offered to us.

⁸A false accusation troubles the wise man and saps the strength of his heart.

²⁴Do you not know that, of those who run in a race, all of them, certainly, are runners, but only one achieves the prize. Similarly, you must run, so that you may achieve. ²⁵And one who competes in a contest abstains from all things. And they do this, of course, so that they may achieve a corruptible crown. But we do this, so that we may achieve what is incorruptible. ²⁶And so I run, but not with uncertainty. And so I fight, but not by flailing in the air. ²⁷Instead, I chastise my body, so as to redirect it into servitude. Otherwise, I might preach to others, but become myself an outcast.

¹⁴I pursue the destination, the prize of the heavenly calling of God in Christ Jesus.

⁸Be cautious for yourselves, lest you lose what you have accomplished, and so that, instead, you may receive a full reward.

⁶I am confident of this very thing: that he who has begun this good work in you will perfect it, unto the day of Christ Jesus.

¹⁰so that you may walk in a manner worthy of God, being pleasing in all things, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God, ¹¹being strengthened in every virtue, in accord with the power of his glory, with all patience and longsuffering, with joy, ¹²giving thanks to God the Father, who has made us worthy to have a share in the portion of the saints, in the light. ¹³For he has rescued us from the power of darkness, and he has transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of his love, ¹⁴in whom we have redemption through his blood, the remission of sins.

⁹And so, let us not be deficient in doing good. For in due time, we shall reap without fail.

²⁸For who among you, wanting to build a tower, would not first sit down and determine the costs that are required, to see if he has the means to complete it? ²⁹Otherwise, after he will have laid the foundation and not been able to finish it, everyone who sees it may begin to mock him, ³⁰saying: ‘This man began to build what he was not able to finish.’

²³Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as for the Lord, and not for men.

¹²It is not as though I have already received this, or were already perfect. But rather I pursue, so that by some means I might attain, that in which I have already been attained by Christ Jesus. ¹³Brothers, I do not consider that I have already attained this. Instead, I do one thing: forgetting those things that are behind, and extending myself toward those things that are ahead, ¹⁴I pursue the destination, the prize of the heavenly calling of God in Christ Jesus. ¹⁵Therefore, as many of us as are being perfected, let us agree about this. And if in anything you disagree, God will reveal this to you also. ¹⁶Yet truly, whatever point we reach, let us be of the same mind, and let us remain in the same rule.

³knowing that the proving of your faith exercises patience,