Lord Help Me Finish Well

Greetings in Jesus Name,
 
My daughter-in-law just competed in her first Mini-Marathon last week in Louisville.  Not only did she finish the 13.1 miles, but she finished well. 
 
This is a most serious thought, this thought of finishing our work. There is nothing in the Christian life quite so sad as unfinished work.

As I look over the work of God, I see strewn all along the way this curse of uncompleted work. The book of Judges tells us of five hundred years of sub-par living, because God's people did not complete their work when they were in possession of Canaan. They conquered Jericho; they conquered 31 kingdoms; they divided the land among 12 victorious tribes; but they left here and there little strongholds that were not subdued-little tribes that could not or would not be driven out-and it was not long until they brought Israel under subjection and neutralized all the work of Joshua's conquest.

Elijah had at great victory at Mt. Carmel, only to leave the field in the possession of God's enemy, after he was threatened by the queen.
 
A successful minister from the past, William Culbertson, reportedly often closed his prayers with this plea, "And Lord, help us to end well."  Another popular minister, F.B. Meyer, said to a friend,  "I do hope my Father will let the river of my life go flowing fully to the finish.  I don't want it to end in a swamp."  God's powerful grace can help us finish well.  Without His renewing our spirits daily, little negative attitudes will become bitterness, little cynical statements will become blatant skepticism, and little private sins will cause us to end in a swamp.

It is not enough to go on for a while.  Allison finished that Mini-Marathon, because she had made preparations to finish. It is the last step that wins. May God put on our hearts this thought, ".....that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God."  Acts 20:24b
 
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all.  Never forget that you are loved!!!

Henry

click Here for a video devotion from Pastor Paul on this same topic.  Go to season finale in the yout tube viewer.