Finishing Strong

1 Samuel 28:15-20

"Samuel said to Saul, "Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?", "I am in great distress," Saul said. "The Philistines are fighting against me, and God has turned away from me. He no longer answers me, either by prophets or by dreams. So I have called on you to tell me what to do." Samuel said, "Why do you consult me, now that the Lord has turned away from you and become your enemy? The Lord has done what he predicted through me. The Lord has torn the kingdom out of your neighbours-to David. Because you did not obey the Lord or carry out his fierce wrath against the Amalekites, the Lord has done this to you today. The Lord will hand over both Israel and you to the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. The Lord will also hand over the army of Israel to the Philistines." Immediately Saul fell full length on the ground, filled with fear because of Samuel's words. His strength was gone, for he had eaten nothing all that day and night."

Another one of these men who started really well and yet failed at the end of his life. Imagine the humility, valour and honour upon his annointing and then spiralling down to disobedience, envy and psychological incapacity. But such an enormous solemn responsibility to lead a chosen nation, such spot on requirements and standard to measure up to, the exact reason why God had been reluctant to grant the nation of Israel and fallen humanity Kingship over themselves. Finishing strong seems to be a seriously daunting life task. And that is yet another reason why Jesus came to Earth, certainly, not only to demonstrate to us how it is done, but also to live within us and appropriate His power in us plus the fellowship of the Holy Spirit to enable us to live for God's glory through and through all the days of our lives. So there is no need to worry too much (well, maybe just the right amount) about finishing strong in this life, we are covered and we can trust that 'nothing can indeed separate us from the love of God.' Maybe only a select few or just maybe, only One person is really capable enough, the Son of Man, our God and saviour Jesus Christ, to become the magnificent true King of a chosen and set apart people. We fix our gaze upon Him, the finisher and perfecter of our faith.

John 12:14-18

Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written: "Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt." At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him. Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. Many people, because they had heard that he had performed this sign, went out to meet him."

~06.04.2014