Wednesday, March 16, 2022
"Now at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought out the Levites from all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem so that they might celebrate the dedication with gladness, with hymns of thanksgiving and with songs to the accompaniment of cymbals, harps and lyres ... Then I had the leaders of Judah come up on top of the wall, and I appointed two great choirs ... and on that day they offered great sacrifices and rejoiced because God had given them great joy, even the women and children rejoiced, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard from afar." Nehemiah 12:27,31,43
Finishing well doesn't get nearly as much press as splashy new beginnings. Even the traditional commencement ceremonies that mark the completion of a course of studies are named for a new beginning: the commencement of the next chapter in life.
Nehemiah 12 records the celebration associated with concluding the work of rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem. The Jewish people came together to sing, dance, and celebrate on the completed wall. In the face of severe hardship and fierce opposition, God had worked through these people to complete the task of rebuilding the broken city wall in record time. They had every reason to loudly and joyfully celebrate! Finishing well was worthy of celebration.
Finishing well is memorably stated in the final words of the Apostle Paul: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; 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 4:7-8.
As Paul neared the finish line, he anticipated a future celebration. He didn't expect it at the moment in that he said, "in the future ... on that day ... to all who have loved His appearing" (emphasis added). He knew that a finish celebration was planned for the end of time, for all the saints of all the ages.
Whether we have only recently begun the race or we have been running for many years, we ultimately will also approach and cross the finish line. We cannot change how we have run in the past, but today we can change how we will strive for the finish line. We can choose today to finish well.
An old saying states that today is the first day of the rest of your life. This is the first day in the adventure of finishing well. May we each make a great new beginning toward an excellent finish.
Pastor Steve
"Now at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought out the Levites from all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem so that they might celebrate the dedication with gladness, with hymns of thanksgiving and with songs to the accompaniment of cymbals, harps and lyres ... Then I had the leaders of Judah come up on top of the wall, and I appointed two great choirs ... and on that day they offered great sacrifices and rejoiced because God had given them great joy, even the women and children rejoiced, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard from afar." Nehemiah 12:27,31,43
Finishing well doesn't get nearly as much press as splashy new beginnings. Even the traditional commencement ceremonies that mark the completion of a course of studies are named for a new beginning: the commencement of the next chapter in life.
Nehemiah 12 records the celebration associated with concluding the work of rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem. The Jewish people came together to sing, dance, and celebrate on the completed wall. In the face of severe hardship and fierce opposition, God had worked through these people to complete the task of rebuilding the broken city wall in record time. They had every reason to loudly and joyfully celebrate! Finishing well was worthy of celebration.
Finishing well is memorably stated in the final words of the Apostle Paul: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; 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 4:7-8.
As Paul neared the finish line, he anticipated a future celebration. He didn't expect it at the moment in that he said, "in the future ... on that day ... to all who have loved His appearing" (emphasis added). He knew that a finish celebration was planned for the end of time, for all the saints of all the ages.
Whether we have only recently begun the race or we have been running for many years, we ultimately will also approach and cross the finish line. We cannot change how we have run in the past, but today we can change how we will strive for the finish line. We can choose today to finish well.
An old saying states that today is the first day of the rest of your life. This is the first day in the adventure of finishing well. May we each make a great new beginning toward an excellent finish.
Pastor Steve