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- Feb 9, 2004
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Finish It! - September 14, 2006
"When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit." John 19:30 (NIV)
We all know how it goes. On any particular day, you can hear these words being spoken in many a household. "Finish your dinner before you go out and play." Or, "Did you finish taking out the trash?" Perhaps you've falling victim to "Finish playing your piano scales; you still have thirty minutes left." There are a lot of things we need to get done every day, and sometimes we just can't finish them- or we choose not to.
Unfortunately I speak from personal experience. I am a born non-finisher, or as I prefer, a scrupulous procrastinator. At this point in my life, I have one unfinished book, a Web site that was supposed to be done two months ago, a will and other assorted significant documents left half completed. And although I know each one is so important and needs to be done, I still somehow cannot find the time or effort to complete them.
Now, I wonder, what if everyone was like me? We'd have airline mechanics leaving bolts and screws un-tightened on wings, roads crews packing up their trucks while hot tar is left unpoured for the new road surface, or even a delicious, juicy hamburger, not quite made to order!
Thank goodness God does it so much better than we do. Just imagine if He decided half-way through the Red Sea crossing to leave and take care of something else, and just let the water tumble back in over the Israelites. Or, if He decided that only five days were enough for Creation and forgot some very important pieces. Or better yet, if, in His infinite wisdom, He chose not to make Eve for Adam, none of us would be here reading this today!
But God is not like us. By His grace, He allows us to stumble and yes, even procrastinate at times. We know that we are called to be like Him and that includes being a finisher. After all, His scriptures tell us in Acts, "However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me, the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace." Now, that's the way to finish!
I pray that God will help change each one of us so we will complete the tasks set before us, realizing that without His Spirit, we are unable to do anything and will ultimately fail. It is only with God that we can truly be complete and used to glorify Him.
Now, as I "finish" this up, I have one final thought. Searching the scriptures, there's no better account of God's complete and perfect love for us. As His Son Jesus, hung on the cross for you and me, three precious words were spoken. We are so grateful for those final words... "It is Finished." Hallelujah!
Contributed by Diane Check: calvarycheck@comcast.net Diane has enjoyed writing short morning "thoughts for the day" for associates at her insurance company for the past few years. She lives in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, with her husband and son. Visit Diane's Web site.
"When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit." John 19:30 (NIV)
We all know how it goes. On any particular day, you can hear these words being spoken in many a household. "Finish your dinner before you go out and play." Or, "Did you finish taking out the trash?" Perhaps you've falling victim to "Finish playing your piano scales; you still have thirty minutes left." There are a lot of things we need to get done every day, and sometimes we just can't finish them- or we choose not to.
Unfortunately I speak from personal experience. I am a born non-finisher, or as I prefer, a scrupulous procrastinator. At this point in my life, I have one unfinished book, a Web site that was supposed to be done two months ago, a will and other assorted significant documents left half completed. And although I know each one is so important and needs to be done, I still somehow cannot find the time or effort to complete them.
Now, I wonder, what if everyone was like me? We'd have airline mechanics leaving bolts and screws un-tightened on wings, roads crews packing up their trucks while hot tar is left unpoured for the new road surface, or even a delicious, juicy hamburger, not quite made to order!
Thank goodness God does it so much better than we do. Just imagine if He decided half-way through the Red Sea crossing to leave and take care of something else, and just let the water tumble back in over the Israelites. Or, if He decided that only five days were enough for Creation and forgot some very important pieces. Or better yet, if, in His infinite wisdom, He chose not to make Eve for Adam, none of us would be here reading this today!
But God is not like us. By His grace, He allows us to stumble and yes, even procrastinate at times. We know that we are called to be like Him and that includes being a finisher. After all, His scriptures tell us in Acts, "However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me, the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace." Now, that's the way to finish!
I pray that God will help change each one of us so we will complete the tasks set before us, realizing that without His Spirit, we are unable to do anything and will ultimately fail. It is only with God that we can truly be complete and used to glorify Him.
Now, as I "finish" this up, I have one final thought. Searching the scriptures, there's no better account of God's complete and perfect love for us. As His Son Jesus, hung on the cross for you and me, three precious words were spoken. We are so grateful for those final words... "It is Finished." Hallelujah!
Contributed by Diane Check: calvarycheck@comcast.net Diane has enjoyed writing short morning "thoughts for the day" for associates at her insurance company for the past few years. She lives in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, with her husband and son. Visit Diane's Web site.
