UNPACK This...Persevering With PurposeSmakprov

The End Is Where We Begin Every summer, NFL teams fill up their rosters with returning players, free agents, and rookies. All of them have one goal in mind…make the team! Unfortunately, many players will eventually hear they've been released, and their football career is over. Although that's not the plan these players had, it ultimately could be the beginning of a different and even better path for them. In life, something old has to end if we’re going to experience a new opportunity. With that said, we often struggle with that transition. We all know how hard it is when something good ends. Truth be told, having something end for something new to begin is critical in our faith journey. My favorite band, Thousand Foot Krutch, has a song called “The End is Where We Begin.” The title indicates that when we choose to follow Jesus, our former life ends, and our new life with Him begins. Galatians 2:20 says, “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” We must reach the point where we realize the end of ourselves is where a Jesus-centered life begins. When we finally end our old life of pursuing the world and chasing after selfish things, the new selfless, Christ-like life begins for us. Ephesians 4:22-24 tells us to “…throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.” When following Jesus, we can confidently go along our journey, knowing we don’t have to remain discouraged. We can understand that when something ends, it’s just the beginning of God doing something new. I’m Bryce Johnson, and you can UNPACK that! PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I am grateful for the doors You’ve closed and the ones You’ve opened in my life. Thank you for the new life I have because of Jesus...for the new dreams and opportunities You’ve given me...and for placing me on a firm foundation. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen. For more sports and faith devotionals, visit unpackinit.com.