2 Timothy 4:7-8
⁷I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸Now there is in store 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 longed for his appearing.
Races are different, some go for sprints even hurdles, others middle and long distance, some marathons, some do walk races, the greater requirement is to finish the race and even nations, parliaments, records are kept and history shall speak of such a one. Even with mishaps here and there, we overall will celebrate the Victory.
We have Messi-It was said because of one or two missing trophies, and a frustrated early retirement, it was contentious if he was the world’s best. Today, I personally say to a non understanding Child of mine,’You were born the Year Messi won the world cup, all other news is fake news’
Luke 14:27-29
²⁷And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. ²⁸For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? ²⁹Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,³⁰Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
2 Corinthians 8:6-7
⁶Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also. ⁷Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.
Many begin well and do not complete because they never understood the assignment, many give up, lose zeal, trend off, get reluctant and complacent, comfortable. Apostle Paul is encouraging people in Corinth to hold onto that which they started, which was the grace to give in support of the poor. It is one thing to begin another to finish. Businesses start and stop on the way, ministries are opened but die, many start as prayer warriors, preachers, evangelists, teachers and give up for the perfect excuses not said by the mirror before them.
We see Apostle Paul encouraging the church at corinth to continue in the good work of giving. You sure begin doing something when your mind is into it and you have the will to do, so why end on the way, for certainty, He who begun a good work in You brings it unto a finish.( Phil: 1:6), He even works the will and ability to do ( Phil 2:13). For this cause , start, and patiently finish, whether things seem to be moving or not, whether people give ear or not, whether you are thriving or not, hang in there.
Daniel was excellent in wisdom , understanding and insight.
That which you start in faith, let your expressions of knowledge, love, zeal stand even when facing satan eyeball to eyeball.
Herein we see that we shouldn’t only excel in our faith but go an extra mile excelling in every good work that you have willed to do.
Christ focused on accomplishing His work more than anything else!! And compares it with food / meat.
John: 4:34
Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.
Humanly the body can’t do without food, there is nothing as important as doing that which God assigned you, Apostle Paul sure did know he had started a fight, one that didn’t need quitters, one that needed persistence, so he kept in there despite the resistance, the pressure, persecutions that He confidently said; I have fought the Good fight, I have run the race , I have kept the faith ( 2 Timothy 4:7). He pressed towards the mark of His high calling in God. It is not how you begin that matters but rather how you end, better is the end than it’s beginning ( Eccl 7:8).
Scripture says: Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men ( Colossians 3:23).
There is a way to accomplish that which you have begun, giving yourself to that which you do: They gave themselves to the Lord, according to His will!! Once we have dedicated fully to the Lord we will do that which we do according to His pleasure / will, we shall be able to do and finish!!
2 Corinthians 8:5
And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.
Prophetic Utterance:
He worketh in me both to will and to do of his good pleasure, therefore I excel in everything I do , in faith, in knowledge, in wisdom, in love , understanding , business, ministry, I excel, I start and finish because He who begun a good work in me will bring it to accomplishment.
I expand on everyside
Halleluyah
Guiding Text:
Ezra 6:14
And the elders of the Jews built and prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. They finished their building by decree of the God of Israel and by decree of Cyrus and Darius and Artaxerxes king of Persia;