HE WILL FINISH IT!

 

Sunday, August 9, 2026

 

HE WILL FINISH IT!

 

Phil 1:6

6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

 

The Greek word for “will perform” is epiteleo (ep-ee-tel-eh'-o) and means to fulfill further (or completely), i.e. execute; by implication, to terminate, to bring to a full and satisfying end.

 

God will keep working on me until He is satisfied with the finished product. He will keep on working in spite of my ignorance until wisdom begins to develop in me. He will keep working in spite of my weakness because His strength is made perfect. He will continue to work in spite of my stubbornness because He is a firm but loving heavenly Father. He will bring me to maturity.

 

God will keep on fine tuning His purpose for me. He will bring into my life those who can influence me for good even if the circumstances of these encounters seem bad at the time. He will shut down some of my pet projects because they do not fit His purposes for me. He will lead me through hard paths because they end in the accomplishment of His greater purpose. He will allow pain and restrain pleasure so that I may become mature.

 

Rom 8:28

28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

 

Dear Lord, thank you for not giving up on me. Thank you for seeing value in me that I cannot see. Thank you for changing my good plans for your better plans. AMEN

 

GOD’S BEAUTY PAGEANT!

 

Saturday, August 8, 2026

 

GOD’S BEAUTY PAGEANT!

 

1 Sam 16:6-12

6 And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD's anointed is before him.

7 But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

8 Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this.

9 Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this. 10 Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The LORD hath not chosen these. 11 And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither. 12 And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he.

 

          When the sons of Jesse passed in parade there were some pretty boys in the company. Eliab, the eldest was probably presented not only first but privately, ahead of the others. He must have been quite a specimen because Samuel concluded he must be the very chosen of God. But God doesn’t see as men.

 

          Dr. Mark Wessel observes this about God’s choices for His twelve apostles: “It was a strange group of men our Lord chose to be his disciples. Four of them were fishermen, one a hated tax collector, another a member of a radical and violent political party … all were laymen … Yet it was with these men that Jesus … disseminated his good news to the end of the earth.” (The Expositors Bible Commentary, volume 8, page 643)

 

Tradition says that Paul was a short man with an oozing eye disease. Paul comments on his own appearance in the following verse in which the word tapeinos is rendered “base” and signifies lowly or short of stature.

 

2 Cor 10:1

10:1 Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:

 

          Little, red faced, David was the last son that Jesse considered to be of kingly quality, but God did not look on his outward appearance. His heart was ready for a crown!

 

Dear Lord, I am neither tall nor handsome by most appraisals. Let me instead have a courageous heart and a beautiful spirit. Let me be pleasing in your sight. AMEN

 

MAKING BIG DECISIONS!

 

Friday, August 7, 2026

 

MAKING BIG DECISIONS!

 

Deut 31:6

6 Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

 

Ps 27:14

14 Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.

 

          Life is full of decisions to be made and some of them are big ones! They present themselves as “live-or-die” and urgently important. We bemoan our lack of “good intel” and sufficient resources, but the wolf is at the door, and we must use whatever is at our disposal. Wow! That was a lot of mixed metaphors!

 

          The point is that too many people make decisions with their emotions without thinking through the issues and weighing all the variables. Something will present itself as a wonderful thing and the giggly giddy emotional people will be – well, giggly and giddy. I, on the other hand, will often think “This will not end well.” I often respond like a curmudgeon! I’m old so I don’t really mind the moniker.

 

          Our two texts present us with seemingly opposing positions. One says, “strike while the iron is hot” and the other seems to say “wait, the iron is TOO hot.” I think we should heed both.

 

          Certainly, if you can’t discern between right and wrong, don’t choose wrong simply because you are facing a deadline. Wait!

 

Dear Lord, only with your help will I ever be able to be both patient and decisive. Therefore, help Lord. AMEN