OUR DAILY BREAD : FINISHERS

[cimi]

January 12
Tuesday


FINISHERS

READ:
2 Timothy 4:1-8
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I have fought the good
fight, I have finished
the race, I have kept
the faith.
__2 Timothy 4:7
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When I was a kid, I dreamed of becoming a black belt in karate.
Several years ago, I began training and came close to fulfilling that goal. However, two belts away from my goal, I quit. There were two reasons--my teacher changed styles in the middle of my training, and I got so busy that I could not devote adequate time for training.

Almost every week, I am nagged by the thought that God wants me to be a finisher in all aspects of my life--but especially in my service for Him.

As Paul spoke of the conclusion of his life, he did not have any nagging thoughts of unfinished business about his ministry. In this final farewell (2 Tim. 4:7), Paul used imagery-rich words to talk about finishing his service for Christ. He described his life and ministry in terms of a fight: "I have fought the good fight." The fight was good because he had engaged in it for God and the gospel. Then he used the imagery of a race as synonymous with his ministry: "I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." Paul affirmed that by God's grace he had finished all that God had given him to do.

As followers of Jesus, let us strive to be finishers, persevering in our service for Jesus Christ. __Marvin Williams
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``````````````````````For every follower of Christ````````````````
````````````````````````There is a race to run;``````````````````
```````````````````And when we cross the finish line,``````````````
```````````````We'll be with Christ, Gods Son. __Fitzhugh```````````
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Run the race with eternity in view.

**************Today's Bible Reading __ 2 Timothy 4:1-8***********

1 I charge you therefore
before God and the Lord
Jesus Christ, who will judge
the living and the dead at
His appearing and His
kingdom: 2 Preach the
word! Be ready in season
and out of season.

Convince, rebuke, exhort,
with all longsuffering and
teaching. 3 For the time will
come when they will not
endure sound doctrine, but
according to their own
desires, because they have
itching ears, they will heap
up for themselves teachers;

4 and they will turn their
ears away from the truth,
and be turned aside to
fables. 5 But you be
watchful in all things,
endure afflictions, do the
work of an evangelist,
fulfill your ministry.

6 For I am already being
poured out as a drink
offering, and the time of my
departure is at hand. 7 I
have fought the good fight,
I have finished the race, I
have kept the faith.

5 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.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

"Do the work of an evangelist" (v.5). In this particular passage,
a number of Bible scholars see a distinction between "the gift of
an evangelist" and "the work of the evangelist." It may be that
along with Timothy's pastoral gift, he was at times to function in
the role of evangelist without having the gift (Eph. 4:11). Likewise,
sometimes each of us may be called upon to serve on a project that
does not necessarily require that we have a spiritual gift in that area.
__DENNIS FISHER