A little boy had been playing
outside on a hot day. When he came inside he asked his mother for a drink of
water saying, “I’m really thirsty, Mom!” When she brought him a half a glass of
water, the look of disappointment was obvious on his face. “Mom, I’m big enough
now. You can trust me with a full glass. I want a whole glass.”
About 60 minutes into the movie the
screen went black and the sound died – “just” when it was getting interesting.
The moviegoers had been drawn in… the story was engrossing… the questions in
their minds about how it would end were flashing through their minds.
There are times when half way just
doesn’t do it in our lives. When you plan a trip you want to reach your
destination. A breakdown, or any other cause that keeps you from getting all
the way you want to be, is just not acceptable. I don’t want to be stranded in
some out of the way airport. I want to be where I planned. I don’t want to
finish the hike halfway up the mountain. I don’t want to hear just half a song.
I’d like to finish the pregnancy and deliver my child (or see my wife do so).
So many times in life… halfway just
doesn’t “cut it”. On June 30, those of us who are reading through the Bible in
a year made it to the halfway point. Just think of what we’ll miss if we end
there. No, we want more than just the first half. We want the whole thing. We
want to stay on track and finish the course. So we keep going… onward day by
day through the whole text of Scripture.
God doesn’t do things “halfway”. He
always finishes His plans. He brings His works to completion, and that includes
those of us in Christ. It includes His purposes for His Church. And it includes
His intentions toward us. He never loves us halfway. He doesn’t give us “half”
gifts. He doesn’t give us half the peace He could, half the joy He could. He
gives in full measure and He knows (and only He knows) when the job is done.
God will never shortchange you and me of anything. He is always fully
sufficient in every need.
Philippians 1:3-6 (NIV) - 3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In
all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because
of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being
confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to
completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 3:16-19
(NIV) 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may
strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so
that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being
rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together
with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love
of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses
knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 4:12-15 (NIV) 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the
body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in
the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining
to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14 Then we
will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here
and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in
their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in
love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.
PRAYER: “Thank You,
Father, that You supply to me all I need out of Your riches in glory. Whether
it be material, spiritual, physical, or
emotional, You are generous and full in Your blessing. Help me to see that what
You supply will always be enough, and that I never need to feel like You’ve “let
me down”. Teach me contentment and show me how to live by faith, truly trusting
You moment by moment. Thank You for giving me the full measure of Your love. In Jesus’ name I pray, AMEN.”
Jesus
Christ is Lord!
Scott
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