People Who Finish, Part 1

Photo by Jehane

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:16-18

The Lord grant mercy to the house of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains; but when he was in Rome, he eagerly searched for me and found me—the Lord grant to him to find mercy from the Lord on that day—and you know very well what services he rendered at Ephesus.

Insights: Yesterday we looked at the characteristics of people who falter. Today and tomorrow we are going to look at people who finish. In the verses we have today we have four different characteristics of one who finishes well. Today will look at the first two and tomorrow the last two. The first characteristic we see is found in the phrase “he often refreshed me.” Onesiphorus was a lot like Barnabas and he encouraged Paul. He was like a fresh glass of water that quenches the thirst of one who has worked hard. Beloved, when I think of refreshing people I often think of the grocery store or Walmart. In other words, there are some people you see in the store and you turn down an aisle hoping they have not seen you. These people we try to avoid or not refreshing people, but rather are drainers of our energy.  Onesiphorus was not a drainer of energy, but rather was one who breathed in life into the one whom he encouraged.  The second characteristic we see of one who finishes well is they are tenacious. Notice the verse says he eagerly sought for Paul and then found him in Rome. One who finishes well will not give up on the assignment given to them by the Lord God. They will press on, they will overcome, they will finish or die trying.  Beloved, I fear the church today has lost this attitude of tenacity. We have compromised on so many issues we have no foundation with which to stand. Our commission to reach the lost is no longer paramount in our lives and the result is literally billions of people dying and going to the Lake of Fire. May the Lord grant to His church that steadfast spirit which will not give in or give up until the task is done.

Questions:

 1. When others see you coming, do they try to turn and avoid you?

 2. Are you like a bulldog which is tenacious and won’t give up until the job is completed?

Prayer: Father, let my life be a fresh encouragement to others.  Grant me a steadfast heart that will not give up on the assignments You have given to me.  Let me finish the race of life well.  Amen.

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