Playing sports growing up I remember
coaches tell us “leave it all on the field.” Meaning we were to give our all, to hold nothing in reserve, come back to the bench completely
spent. He’d tell us, if we did, then we can walk away from any game, win or
lose, with our heads held high, knowing we gave it all, individually and as a team.
The poet Merritt Malloy writes, “When I die, give what’s left of me away … when all that’s left
of me, is love, give me away.” As death approaches, people often hope they’ve spent
themselves completely, gave it all, in a productive and fulfilling
life. Nobody wants to see their life as a series of missed opportunities for loving
and giving. Today’s Scriptures offer us models for fulfilling our missions as
Christians.
Consider these evocative phrases from
Paul: “I did not at all shrink from telling you what was
for your benefit; (Acts 20:20) earnestly bearing witness to God’s
plan, and considering life of no importance to me, if
only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord
Jesus.” (Acts
20:24) It’s obvious Paul
gave it all in his fervor and commitment to preaching God’s word to the leaders of
the Church of Ephesus, and now they will be answerable to God for the same.
Jesus himself certainly demonstrated
the same zeal as He prays: “The hour has come (Jn
17:1) Father, I have made your name known to those you gave me.” (Jn 17:6) and I entrusted to them the message you entrusted to me (Jn 17:8). It was through the cross; that
Jesus glorified the Father and completed the plan of salvation in place since
before the foundation of the world. Jesus shows his total obedience to the
Father, having completed everything the Father has sent him to accomplish. Indeed,
this will be his final words on the cross, “it is finish.” (Jn 19:30) Ultimately, Jesus gave it all for us in his life, death, and resurrection—and in the gift of his
Spirit.
No comments:
Post a Comment