04 17 08 Finished the Work

“I have brought you glory on earth. I have finished the work you gave me to do.”(John 17:4 NIrV)

Have you ever wished for a thirty or forty-hour day? Extra time would not relieve the tremendous pressure under which we live. A deadline here, appointment there, paper due this day, seminar next day….Our lives leave a trail of deadlines to meet, appointments to keep and unfortunately, unfinished tasks. Unanswered letters, unvisited friends, unwritten articles, and unread books haunt quiet moments if and when we do get them. Do we ever get a chance to say, “I have FINISHED THE WORK?” We desperately need relief.

But would more hours in a day solve the problem? Would another computer device save the day? We would soon be just as frustrated as we are now with our twenty-four hours, blackberry and wi-fi compatible laptop! A mother's work is never finished, and neither is that of any student, teacher, minister, or anyone else we know. The passage of time will not allow us to catch up.

Children grow in number and age to require more of our time. Then they have children! Greater experience and dedication in our profession and church brings more taxing assignments. We find ourselves working more and enjoying it less. Can we say we have ever FINISHED THE WORK as a parent, a son, a grandparent, a pastor, a teacher? Some roles are life-long.

Hard work does not hurt us. The Gospel records show that Jesus worked hard. We all know what it is to go full speed for long hours, totally involved in an important task. The resulting weariness is matched by a sense of achievement and joy, knowing we have accomplished God’s work! This is the key: God’s work, His plan, His will. The Lord’s life was never feverish; He had time for people. He could spend hours talking to one person, such as the Samaritan woman at the well. His life showed a wonderful balance, a sense of timing…the Father’s timing. On the night before He died, Jesus made an astonishing claim. He FINISHED THE WORK!

No secret…no magical method…no 30-day plan to a more organized and effective life.
Jesus prayerfully waited for His Father's instructions and for the strength to follow them. He discerned the Father's will day by day in a life of prayer. By this means He warded off the urgent and accomplished the important. God's instructions freed Him from the chains of the urgent. It gave Him a sense of direction and allowed Him to set a steady pace. His obedience and submission to DADDY’s will enabled Him to do every important task God assigned. Joy in struggles. Joy in hard and strenuous work. Joy carrying out the Father’s will, no matter how taxing. Joy in rest and relaxation as well. Joy in saying, I have FINISHED THE WORK. It comes through constant prayer (communication) and submission (obedience) to His will.