A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope,
encouragement and exhortation.
Daily
Encouragement on
Friday, May 10,
2019
Finishing
Well
Yesterday
I visited for a few minutes with Grover DeVault who is
running the race to the finish line. He is a retired
army chaplain and Bible College professor. He was the
Pennsylvania State Police chaplain during the Amish
schoolhouse shooting here in Lancaster County in 2006,
ministering to the state police, first responders and
Amish community.
"The Finish"
Note:
This week we have
considered lessons
we can learn from
"running the race"
since in several
instances the Bible
describes the
Christian life as
running a race. We
have input from our
very experienced 81
year old friend,
Coach Bill, who
coached track and
field for over 50
years. Today let us
consider the finish.
Message
summary:
We will
all finish this
race. The question
is, "Will we
finish well?"
Listen to our
message on your
audio player.
Today
we conclude
our week-long
series drawing
spiritual
illustrations
from running a
race.
In
Tuesday's
message we
considered the
start of the
race and noted
how there are
many starts in
our life
beginning with
our
conception. On
Wednesday
Brooksyne and
I celebrated
our 43rd
wedding
anniversary,
the start of
our marriage.
We
also have many
finishes in
life, some
joyful, some
not. We have
two young
people who
stayed
overnight with
us. One took
her final
tests on
Thursday for
the finish of
her school
years. She's
done well and
that's a
joyful finish.
But she's not
finished with
the most
important race
of life. In
fact no one
reading this
has
experienced
the most
important
finish of all.
Paul
said in 2
Timothy 4:7 "I
have finished
the race", but
in a sense he
really hadn't
completely
finished as he
continued the
race to his
death. We
don't race to
the finish
line, we run through
the tape. A
consideration
for our older
readers is
that just
because we
can't do many
of the things
we could do at
a younger age
we can still
get the
message out."
In 1997
we watched the
Boston Marathon near
the finish line
where it's a joyful
finish for so many
runners.
Each day,
unheralded for the
most part, thousands
of Christian runners
also finish a race.
Apart
from their own
family, church, and
close friends very few
are publicly
recognized.
Certainly not to the
degree entertainers,
athletes,
politicians and
other "famous"
people are often
recognized and
celebrated.
But the most notable recognition that really counts will be on the other side where Christian runners aspire to hear the words of our Lord say, "Well done, good and faithful servant" (Matthew 25:21). In our daily texts we see several components of finishing well in life's race: 1) "I consider my life worth nothing to me". John the Baptist said it so well, "He (Jesus) must increase, but I must decrease" (John 3:30). 2) "Completing the task the Lord Jesus has given me--the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace". Essentially this is the great commission given to all His disciples. Like the apostle Paul, we also have "the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace". We are certainly apportioned with a variety of specific giftings. You may be a student, a businessperson, a homemaker, a professional or a "minister". You may be young or old, black, white or otherwise. You may be wealthy or not so wealthy. But if you are a follower of Jesus Christ you are called to "the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace". Let us all be faithful in doing so! 3) "I have fought the good fight". In 1 Timothy 6:12 Paul wrote, "Fight the good fight of faith". This is not a physical fight, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil" (Ephesians 6:12). If you are not fighting you have surrendered to the enemy! 4) "I have kept the faith". Each generation is called to keep and contend for the faith once for all entrusted to the saints (Jude 3). The definite article is very significant in each of these texts. The order in the Greek emphasizes this, "The faith I have kept." "The faith" is the apostolic doctrine taught from the very beginning of the church age. This is the standard we must maintain. We will all finish this race. The question is, "Will we finish well?" A wonderful promise follows our second daily text. "In the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing" (2 Timothy 4:8). Be
encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber Many
years ago we
shared this
story in a
Daily
Encouragement
titled "We're
Not Home Yet!"
An
old missionary
couple who had
been working
in Africa for
many years
returned to
New York City
to retire.
With no
pension and
broken in
health, they
were
discouraged
and somewhat
fearful of the
future.
They happened to be booked on the same ship as Teddy Roosevelt who was returning from a big-game hunting expedition. They watched the passengers trying to glimpse the great man, the crew fussing over him, photographers flashing their oversized cameras. Back at the dock in New York locals squeezed into every available space, the band with their instruments positioned to break into celebratory music as the president departed the ship. Yet the missionary couple who had given their all to reach the African people for Christ slipped off the ship completely unnoticed. That night, in a cheap flat they rented on the East Side, the man's spirit finally broke. He said to his wife, "I can't take this; God is not treating us fairly." His wife, no longer able to cope with his agitated spirit, suggested he go into the bedroom and speak to the Lord about that which he was feeling. A short time later he walked out of the bedroom with a brighter countenance. His wife asked, "Dear, what happened?" "The Lord settled it with me," he said. "I told him how bitter I was that the president should receive this tremendous homecoming, when no one was present to meet us as we returned home. And when I finished, it seemed as though the Lord put His hand on my shoulder and simply said, 'But you're not home yet!'" Monday: "Running The Race Set Before Us" Tuesday: "The Start" Wednesday: "The Hurdles" Thursday: "The Relay" Today: "The Finish" To receive the "Daily Encouragement" each Monday-Friday through email see this page to subscribe to our email list. You can also subscribe to the Wordpress rss feed or through a Wordpress email subscription. (See the email subscription on the right side after opening this page.) We realize there are many fine ministries and causes requesting support but if the Lord would lead you we surely need and appreciate the financial support from our readers and listeners. Our ministry labor is comprised of approximately half our time to Daily Encouragement and the other half to our chaplaincy ministry to companies for which we receive compensation. Each of these ministries essentially is the same as a part-time job (20+ hours weekly) for each of us. Our goal for many years is that each would provide half of our ministry expenses and income. If you would consider making a donation to our ministry see here for more information. Please Note: We also provide this easy option due to the convenience, for international supporters, and for those who may not be concerned regarding receiving an official tax deductible receipt. Click here to send an offering using PayPal. This will open to a page that states "Brooksyne Weber" Permissions: Please feel free to pass on, reproduce and distribute any material on Daily Encouragement Net, in part or in whole, in any format, provided that you do not alter the wording in any way or charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. It is our desire to spread this material, not protect or restrict it. We do request that you keep the contact, copyright and subscription information intact. Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version. Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
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