Colossians 4:17 "Push to the End"

Colossians 4:17

"Tell Archippus: "See to it that you complete the work you have received in the Lord." NIV

The Lord gives us all kinds of jobs. We are given gifts and talents to use for his work in a secular job or a career ministry position. We have jobs as spouses and parents, friends, and neighbors. God calls us to work in our church as volunteers and in our communities as citizens. He has given us the capacity to do many things, we just have to be willing to do them.

The Word says to do everything as if you are doing it for the Lord. So no matter what your profession, calling, or job, you should do everything to glorify Him. And since He wants us to complete our work, we should finish well.

As we are coming to the end of a school year, I keep telling our kids, "Finish well." Not because I want them to not blow their GPA with the final tests. But because they have worked hard and should continue pushing to the end. God doesn't call us to be slackers, but warriors.

With the finishing up of the book, I have to tell myself the same thing. God gave us a call to do this; now I need to finish the work I've been told to do.

Everything we do should always be to His glory. And for His glory, we should always give our best to the very end.

Further Thoughts:

1. Is there something that God has called you to do that you are avoiding? Maybe it's time to finish well.
2. Find other Scriptures to support doing that which God has called you to do.
   

Matthew 4:18-22 "Follow Me"

Read Matthew 4:18-22.

"'Come, follow me,' Jesus said, 'and I will make you fishers of men." NIV

I am always amazed at how quickly the disciples dropped everything they were doing to follow the Rabbi. I imagine they had heard about Him and this new radical message He was bringing to the Jewish community. They might have been so hungry for a new way that they would have followed any radical that came through. Maybe God had prepared their hearts ahead of time. But they literally dropped their fishing nets, left their families, and followed Jesus. That just amazes me.

I want to be like the disciples. I really want to be so radical that when Jesus calls, I drop everything and go where He tells me to go, do what He tells me to do, and follow the Rabbi. I don't want to be so bogged down in activities, plans, or personal agendas that I don't respond instantly to His calling. I serve a radical Messiah; I must live my life radically prepared to go.

Further Thoughts:

1. Who from the Old Testament was radically prepared to go when God called. What were they called to do? Make a list or read Hebrews 11. (i.e. Noah: build a boat in the desert)
2. How is preparation to go when God calls and faith related? What can hinder our faith from allowing us to respond to a call? Support with Scripture.
3. Is the Lord calling you to follow Him -- maybe to a new job, a new ministry, maybe just to invite your neighbor down the street to church. He's at work around you, will you join Him? Follow the Rabbi.
4. Go to http://www.followtherabbi.com/ for more on the disciples' culture when they answered the call.