“For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now 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. At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18.
I read a devotion from the Lutheran Hour, by Dr. Kari Vo a few weeks ago that really has been working on me. Take another look at what Paul wrote in this scripture and then think where you have been…back in the day. Paul is looking back over the years he has served Jesus, and he is content. For the most part, I am content, but there were those when I was way off the road. In Paul’s mind, the true sacrifice is the faith and love of the churches he has been able to plant for Jesus during the years of His service; and his own life is the drink offering that goes along with that much greater gift.
Today, for me and Job here in the Assisted Living facility, the more weeks I spend here with the older generation, the more I am looking back in the day where I have been and what I’ve been able to accomplish through the Lord. Do you ever catch yourself looking back over your journey? I hope that we are moved to look back over our shoulder once in a while, because we love Jesus, who willingly suffered and died to make us children of God; and so in love, we do what we can to serve Him andto thank the One who loves us so much.
As I look back, like Paul and other saints in the Bible, I can recall several scenes not fit for a PG film. But as we read here in 2 Timothy, Paul is content to let Jesus cover His former sins with His own blood, and take what we’ve done and make it better; something He can use and rejoice in. Last week, we learned that Trinity Hope began feeding over 67,000 children in 301 schools in Haiti. That miracle is happening because our Triune God is working through a group of His children to feed an even larger group of His children. Can I get an AMEN?
Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus
Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
May God be with you,
Jay