Finish: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: 2 Timothy 4:7-8

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race. I have kept the faith. From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me but to all who have longed for his appearing.”

How did Paul interpret his finish? He still lived for several years past the Biblical narratives of him, but the scripture is silent of this season as it is over the first ten years in the wilderness after his first encounter with Jesus.

After a long chronicle of Abraham’s faith walk there is silence re him as well after he was willing to sacrifice Isaac in trust to the Lord’s purpose.

Moses’ first call was to lead his people out of Egypt, yet scripture notes that he finished the Tabernacle and later Solomon finished the Temple. Jesus said, “It is finished,” while on the cross yet He continues to pour out His grace daily.

We all have life markers and project markers that we can point to with either a sense of accomplishment, or a sense of regret, and sometimes both together. Perhaps in our daily race to complete tasks we yearn for Paul’s confidence in a finish and wonder what that looks like for our spiritual life too. We gravitate to a desire for results.

Yet maybe the clue lies in the second sentence? “I have kept the faith.” Maybe something happened to Paul where he really ‘got’ what walking with God meant. Maybe it’s not an always active accomplishment but a heart one—a trust one—an unbreakable faith.

Not measurable by visible standards or markers or by others. But a light bulb insight into faith that overpowers any of our human weaknesses and empowers our complete trust in all circumstances.

Lord, by Your grace, please guide and direct and strengthen each of us to fulfill the call You choose with hearts of faith and trust and commitment.

Psalm of Worship: 1 John 1:4

“We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.”

Pace: Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

                       Pace

Pace is necessary

to reach long distance

stretch—roads wind,

curve, buckle

throughout the route.

Breathe with rhythm

Spirit strength

infusing fresh energy

inhale—exhale beat.

Match soft shoe

choreography

practice until a reflex

                        dancing towards destination.

Reflection Run: Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     What dreams are you continuing to pursue despite hardship? What dreams did you set aside? What made the difference?

2.     Do you seek the Lord’s guidance every day or only when major changes arise?

3.     What do you think your first reaction would be if God asked you to completely give up the life you are living now and follow a different route?

4.     What would be your final answer?

Share: How do you reassess a commitment that doesn’t seem to make any progress? What question do you ask in prayer?

Run: Faith Seeds: Prayers and Poetry

Hebrews 12:1, “and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us,”

Run: requires training, energy, discipline, commitment, practice, endurance, and pace.

Or else: we stumble, cramp, tire, fall down, and give up.

Witness the recent events of the World Cup Soccer as the best players across the globe met in the hopes that their training would bring victory. Yet even among the very best some still had an edge.

Viewers admired not only their talents but also their perseverance and preparation to reach their goals. The players knew exactly what they wanted and put in the long hard hours to achieve their dreams.

Are we running the race the Lord has set before us with the same level of determination, or do we fizzle at the first major obstacle? Do we begin to think we need to do it on our own or do we remember His strength is ever present?

It’s so easy that when failures cause us to trip we begin to question if we got the route wrong. Maybe the directions were really for someone else. Or we rearranged the expectations to our own liking.

Lord, please give us each concrete insight as to the race you are calling us to this day, this year, this road without an end in sight. Only when we commit with our whole hearts under Your strength and Your guidance can we reach the finish line.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 37:5-6

“Commit your way to the Lord,

Trust also in Him and He will do it.

And He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,

And your judgment as the noon day.”