Compassion: 30 Days of HeartworkSample

Finish the Race

HEART //

The Lord has connected each of our hearts with a part of His mission to fulfill while we are on the earth. He has enabled us to be a part of this incredible work through the power of His Holy Spirit, and He has given us the resources to be able to make a difference. It is a great honor and privilege to “spend ourselves” for others, as God calls us to. 

Paul knew the task God had given him – “the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.” His focus in life was giving the gospel to those who did not know Christ, and he did not stop until he died. God has called us to follow Him in pursuit of the lost, broken and hurting. He commands us love each other (Matthew 22:39) and commissions us to make disciples (Matthew 28:19-20) and has called us each to different expressions of that mission (Romans 12:4). But whatever our role, as today’s verse reminds us, God is encouraging us to “finish the race and complete the task.” 

Dr. Forest Witcraft wrote, “One hundred years from now, it will not matter what my bank account was, how big my house was, or what kind of car I drove. But the world may be a little better, because I was important in the life of a child.”* Bringing hope to another life has much greater implications than we can even imagine, as their life then impacts others, and so on. May we be able to stand before the Lord one day and, like Paul, come to the end of our lives having finished the race and completed the task the Lord invited us into. May our lives have been spent generously and fully on behalf of others and in spreading God’s grace. Because it’s in generosity that we get to know God and become like Him, and that’s what matters! May we enter into eternity and hear our Father say, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21). 

* “Within My Power”, essay by Dr. Forest Witcraft (Scouting Magazine, March 1968).

WORK //

As we come to the end of our journey to learn to spend ourselves, the question that echoes for each of us is “What mission is God calling me to?” As you continue to grow in spending yourself, allow God to answer this question. Remember that more often than not, God has a mission right in front of you, in your family, school or community. 

For your journal: 100 years from now how do you want to be remembered? What do you want your legacy to be?