[Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Focus on finishing well

Read: John 17:1-19

Meditation verse:

“I brought glory to You here on earth by completing the work You gave Me to  do” (John 17:4 NLT).

Whilst it is good to begin a project, true satisfaction, joy, and pride come from  completing that which you started. The glory is in the finishing. No bible  character exemplified the need to focus on finishing as well as the joy of finishing  than our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Whilst on earth, He focused on the  assignment given to Him by His Father. So, He said things like: “My food is to do  the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work” (John 4:34). “I must work  the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one  can work” (John 9:4). “I have food to eat of which you do not know” (John 4:32- 34). And on finishing, He said, “I brought glory to You here on earth by  completing the work You gave Me to do” (John 17:4 NLT).  

Paul the Apostle also lived this truth. He said: “For me to live is Christ, and to die  is gain” (Phil 1:21). “For if I preach not the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for  necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel” (1 Corinth  9:16). “I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ  Jesus (Phil 3:14). And on finishing He said “I have fought the good fight, I have  finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown  of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that  Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing (2 Tim 4:7- 8). Both shaped the history of Christianity in very profound ways.  

The bible puts it aptly by stating that: “the end of a thing is better than its  beginning” (Eccl 7:8). Without focusing on the goal, you may not get there. See  how an athlete on a race keeps his eyes fixed on the finished line. He refuses to  be distracted by those running beside him. Keep your eyes on the task at hand.  Refuse to be distracted by exigencies or distractions of the times. We are living  in very difficult and unprecedented times, but you must keep pressing towards  the mark. Then when all is said and done, you can boldly say “I fought a good  fight, I have finished my course”.

IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Pst (Mrs) Oke Chinye, Founder of The Rock Teaching Ministry (TRTM).

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