“However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.” – Acts 20:24
In the previous study, A Disciple Makes Disciples, we learned that following Jesus means joining Him in His mission, proclaiming the gospel, nurturing spiritual growth, and investing in the next generation of disciples. Yet Jesus also teaches that discipleship is not only about beginning well or even serving well. It’s ultimately about finishing well. This study brings us to the end of the: Discipleship According to Jesus series, an important truth that serves as the capstone to all the others: a true disciple endures to the end.
Paul’s words in Acts 20:24 reflect a man who understood his purpose. He measured his entire life by faithfulness to the mission Christ entrusted to him. His “only aim” was “to finish the race.” It was a single-minded devotion woven into every decision he made. This same calling to finish the race strong rests on every believer who has decided to follow Jesus.
The Calling: Running the Race with Purpose
Scripture consistently describes the Christian life as a race with a clear direction and a defined finish line. Paul writes, “Run in such a way as to get the prize” (1 Cor 9:24), indicating deliberate effort, not casual wandering. A disciple is someone who understands that the life God gives is not random or aimless. We are running a race marked out by Christ Himself (Heb 12:1), and He calls us to run it faithfully.
To run with purpose means knowing why we run. The Christian life is not driven by the desire to avoid hardship or accumulate earthly wealth. It is centered on the glory of Jesus Christ and the completion of the task He has assigned to us. This clarity of purpose guards us from distraction. When the goal is Christ, worldly success loses its power to enchant, and worldly suffering loses its power to intimidate. A disciple can endure difficulty because they understand that their life is about something far greater – finishing the work Christ gave them.
The Necessity of Perseverance
No theme is repeated more often in Jesus’ teaching about discipleship than the call to endure. Three times He declares, “the one who stands firm to the end will be saved” (Matt 10:22; 24:13; Mark 13:13). Jesus is not describing salvation earned by perseverance, but salvation proven by perseverance. Genuine disciples endure because the Spirit strengthens them, the Father guards them, and Christ intercedes for them.
Other passages reinforce this truth. Hebrews exhorts us to “hold firmly till the end” (Heb 3:14), and Paul warns believers to remain “stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel” (Col 1:23). John writes that some will abandon the faith, demonstrating that they never truly belonged to Christ (1 John 2:19). Endurance reveals the authenticity of a disciple’s faith.
This perseverance is necessary because the Christian life involves difficulty—spiritual opposition, temptation, trials, suffering, and seasons of discouragement. But Scripture never asks disciples to persevere in their own strength. Jesus promised, “My sheep… will never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand” (John 10:28). Paul reminds us that God “will sustain you to the end” (1 Cor 1:8). Peter says we are “shielded by God’s power” until the final day (1 Pet 1:5).
A disciple finishes strong because God is at work within them from beginning to end. We endure, not because we are strong, but because God is faithful.
In 2 Timothy 2:11-13, Paul writes a profound statement:
“Here is a trustworthy saying:
If we died with him, we will also live with him;
if we endure, we will also reign with him.
If we disown him, he will also disown us;
if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself.”
While scholars differ on the interpretation of this “trustworthy saying,” they all treat it as a serious warning for those who would walk away from their faith. Disowning Jesus has severe, perhaps eternally fatal consequences for a disciple.
The Struggle: Obstacles Every Disciple Must Overcome
Running this race involves real struggle. The New Testament is honest about the obstacles disciples face, not to discourage us, but to prepare us. Temptation seeks to entice us, doubts whisper in moments of weakness, suffering threatens to wear us down, and the world constantly invites us to compromise. Even the normal responsibilities of life, work, family, finances, and burdens can distract and hinder our progress.
Paul spoke openly about his own battles: “We were under great pressure… far beyond our ability to endure” (2 Cor 1:8). He knew weariness, spiritual attack, loneliness, and even despair. Yet he also knew that the power of Christ is made perfect in weakness (2 Cor 12:9).
The struggle is not evidence that we are failing; it is evidence that we are fighting. A disciple who wrestles is a disciple who has not given up. Finishing strong requires honesty about our weaknesses, dependence on God’s strength, and perseverance through the hardships that inevitably come. The obstacles are real, but the grace available to the disciple is greater still.
The Eternal Reward That Awaits the Faithful
Disciples persevere because they know what lies at the finish line. Near the end of his life, Paul declared, “I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness…” (2 Tim 4:7–8). The crown here is (stephanos), a victor’s crown that was usually awarded to athletes who were victorious in their sporting event.
Jesus promised the same reward: “Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Rev 2:10). James adds, “The one who perseveres… will receive the crown” (James 1:12). These crowns are not earthly trophies but eternal recognition from the King of kings. They point to the culmination of the disciple’s hope – eternal life with Christ that cannot be taken away, and glory that cannot fade.
The greatest reward, however, is the presence of Jesus Himself. To finish strong is to enter His presence and hear the words every disciple longs for: “Well done, good and faithful servant.” (Matt 25:23). The race is temporary. The reward is eternal.
What this Means for a Disciple Today
Finishing strong is the calling of every believer. It is not reserved for spiritual heroes or church leaders. It is the natural outcome of a life grounded in the gospel, strengthened by the Spirit, nourished by the Word, and anchored in hope.
Finishing strong means choosing obedience when compromise is easier. It means returning to God’s Word when the heart feels weak. It means confessing sin, fleeing temptation, and refusing to abandon the hope we have in Christ. Disciples finish strong by walking daily with Jesus, trusting His promises, and relying on His strength.
This is where the series ends, but the disciple’s journey continues. You are called to run the race Christ has marked for you. Run it with endurance. Run it with faith. Run it knowing that Jesus goes with you, before you, and waits for you at the finish line. May you finish strong, and may your life echo Paul’s resolve: “My only aim is to finish the race.
Questions for Reflection and Discussion
Finishing the race with purpose – Where do you sense God clarifying your purpose right now, and how does that shape the way you run your “race” each day?
Enduring to the end – How does Jesus’ repeated call to persevere strengthen your resolve when you face hardship, discouragement, or spiritual opposition?
Perseverance in weakness – When you feel spiritually tired or overwhelmed, what practices help you return to God for strength instead of giving up?
Obstacles on the journey – What distractions, temptations, or fears most often hinder your walk with Christ, and how might you confront them with Scripture?
Sustained by God’s power – How does knowing that Christ keeps and sustains His people (John 10:28; 1 Cor 1:8; 1 Pet 1:5) give you confidence to continue following Him faithfully?
The hope of eternal reward – How do the promises of the “crown of righteousness” and hearing “Well done” influence the way you live today?
Leaving a legacy of faithfulness – What steps can you take now so that your life reflects a disciple who finishes strong and encourages others to do the same?
My name is Michael Adkins. For several decades I’ve been studying Scripture, developing discipleship resources, and teaching others how to walk more closely with Christ. Currently, I serve as the Discipleship Pathway Leader at Riverside International Church in Cascais, Portugal, where my passion is helping believers grow into mature disciples who live out their faith in everyday life.