Judges Chapter 1: Verse 28 (NIV-UK)
When Israel became strong, they pressed the Canaanites into forced labour but never drove them out completely.
John Chapter 19: Verse 30 (NIV-UK)
When he had received the drink, Jesus said, ‘It is finished.’ With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
2 Timothy Chapter 4: verse 7 (NIV-UK)
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
After Joshua’s death it didn’t take the Israelites long to deviate from what God had instructed. Some tribes completely routed the people in the land of their inheritance whilst others didn’t finish what they started. Its important that we don’t do as they did. Jesus’ last words were, “It is finished!” He fulfilled His ministry for our sake otherwise we would be without hope. And emulating that we see Paul in his last words to Timothy could echo those words. Its sometimes easy to think that we have done enough and be happy to settle with what we have achieved. But by settling the Israelites laid themselves open to all sorts of problems in the future. God doesn’t look for enough, He looks for completion in whatever it is He calls us to do. If that seems daunting at times, we need to remember that we are not being asked to do that in our own strength. We have the Holy Spirit as our Helper who will never leave us (see John Chapter 14 verse 16). And He is more than enough to help us finish our own race.
Dear Lord,
Help me not to be content with “enough” in my Christian walk. You want us to be overflowing with Your love and power so that it impacts others. I want to be like Paul and be able to say that I finished the race. Thank You for sending the Holy Spirit to make that possible. Amen.