Well Done

When we love God and love our neighbor, we are completing our assignment from our Father and we are placing ourselves in line for reward in the world to come.

“Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”  Colossians 3:16 (NASB)

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Let this be a time of worship to God.  Pray each prayer and add your own personal message to God.  Read each scripture as though reading it for the first time – listen carefully for the voice of God.  Listen to each song paying close attention to the lyrics provided.  These songs were carefully chosen.  Even if the music is not your favorite style of music, know that the musicians performing are sincerely making music to the Lord.  Try to feel the passion in their words and their musical expression.  Give thought to the message presented and confirm the truth therein by opening your Bible and taking some time to do your own personal study.  May you be greatly blessed.

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Let’s Pray Together

Almighty Creator of the universe, watching over us all, we praise your holy name.  Guide us toward your approaching kingdom as loyal followers of your every desire.  Thank you for all that you provide in our lives.  Bless us Father with your goodness and mercy, as we stumble our way through this life, and provide us with the ability to bless others in the same manner.  Keep our minds ever vigilant to the disruptive powers of the evil one.  Guide us on a path that avoids destruction.  You alone are our protector and deliverer.  We ask these things in the Holy name of Jesus.  Amen.

Well Done

Unfortunately, there is no human father that is absolutely perfect.  As a father myself, I try very hard, but must admit to having made many mistakes.  Some of us are left without a father for various reason and others have fathers that are so far from perfect they would be better off without a father.  Even if you believe you have the best father in the world, he is likely lacking in some way – all humans are imperfect.  Fortunately, are spiritual father and Creator is in all ways perfect.  Ultimately, we all have the same father who is willing to provide for us his perfect love if only we will acknowledge him with our love.

“Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.”  John 14:23(NASB)

We were created by God to fulfill his purpose.  When we place our faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and seek to follow his teaching, we become the children of God our Father.  This completes God’s mission and places us in his care for all eternity.

“For us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.”  1 Corinthians 8:6 (NASB)

Everything good in our lives is a gift from our loving father.  Every struggle is a challenge from our Father designed to prepare us for the world to come.  Like an athlete training for the Olympics, we need to endure some pain in order to develop our strength, wisdom, and endurance.  As a result, our adversity becomes another good thing our father has provided to build us up and insure our success throughout all eternity.

“Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.”  James 1:17(NASB)

Our Father in heaven is himself good and perfect.  We love him because he first loved us.  There is no other like him.  There can only be one who is truly perfect.  God our Father is that one.

Let this song lift your spirit.

Good Good Father – Casting Crowns

I’ve heard a thousand stories of what they think You’re like

But I’ve heard the tender whisper of love in the dead of night

And You tell me that You’re pleased and that I’m never alone

‘Cause You’re a good, good Father

It’s who You are, it’s who You are, it’s who You are

And I’m loved by You

It’s who I am, it’s who I am, it’s who I am

I’ve seen many searching for answers far and wide

But I know we’re all searching for answers only You provide

‘Cause You know just what we need before we can say a word

You’re a good, good Father

It’s who You are, it’s who You are, it’s who You are

And I’m loved by You

It’s who I am, it’s who I am, it’s who I am

You’re a good, good Father

It’s who You are, it’s who You are, it’s who You are

And I’m loved by You

It’s who I am, it’s who I am, it’s who I am

You’re perfect in all of Your ways

You’re perfect in all of Your ways

You’re perfect in all of Your ways to us

You’re perfect in all of Your ways

You’re perfect in all of Your ways

You’re perfect in all of Your ways to us

Love so undeniable I can hardly speak

Peace so unexplainable I can hardly think

As You call me deeper still

As You call me deeper still

As You call me deeper still

Into love love love

You’re a good, good Father

It’s who You are, it’s who You are, it’s who You are

And I’m loved by You

It’s who I am, it’s who I am, it’s who I am

You’re a good, good Father

It’s who You are, it’s who You are, it’s who You are

And I’m loved by You

It’s who I am, it’s who I am, it’s who I am

You’re perfect in all of Your ways

You’re perfect in all of Your ways

You’re perfect in all of Your ways to us

You’re perfect in all of Your ways

You’re perfect in all of Your ways

You’re perfect in all of Your ways to us

Traveling the Road to Eternity

It is our faith in Jesus that sets us apart from this world and connects us eternally to our loving, heavenly Father.  While this world is filled with darkness, our time spent here is vitally important and should not be discounted.  Every moment has been prepared specifically for our benefit.  In the end, we will carry the lessons from this world into our life to come.

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.”  John 5:24 (NASB)

Thanks to our loving heavenly Father, we can look forward to a life without pain and sorrow.  We can expect to live a blissful existence surrounded by joy and love.  As we travel in this direction it’s important for us to remember that the journey is an indispensable part of the process.  Every difficult moment and every moment of success is equally beneficial to achieving our ultimate destination.

“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”  Revelation 21:4 (NASB)

Our time in this world is limited and we should be careful to use that time wisely.  We don’t want to get to where we are going unprepared.  We don’t want to leave this world with things left undone.  We should be ever vigilant to seek out and accomplish everything our Father has planned for us here.

“But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.”  2 Peter 3:13 (NASB)

Praise God for providing our eternal existence and reconnecting us with our loved ones in the world beyond.  Some will travel a difficult path to the new heavens and new earth, while others will somehow find a more peaceful path.  Each of us has a unique road to travel that has been designed by our perfect loving Father.

Let this song bring joy to your heart.

When I Get Where I’m Going – Brad Paisley

When I get where I’m going

On the far side of the sky

The first thing that I’m gonna do

Is spread my wings and fly

I’m gonna land beside a lion

And run my fingers through his mane

Or I might find out what it’s like

To ride a drop of rain

Yeah, when I get where I’m going

There’ll be only happy tears

I will shed the sins and struggles

I have carried all these years

And I’ll leave my heart wide open

I will love and have no fear

Yeah, when I get where I’m going

Don’t cry for me down here

I’m gonna walk with my grandaddy

And he’ll match me step for step

And I’ll tell him how I missed him

Every minute since he left

And then I’ll hug his neck

Yeah, when I get where I’m going

There’ll be only happy tears

I will shed the sins and struggles

I have carried all these years

And I’ll leave my heart wide open

I will love and have no fear

Yeah, when I get where I’m going

Don’t cry for me down here

So much pain and so much darkness

In this world we stumble through

All these questions I can’t answer

So much work to do

But when I get where I’m going

And I see my Maker’s face

I’ll stand forever in the light

Of His amazing grace

Yeah when I get where I’m going

Oh when I get where I’m going

There’ll be only happy tears

Hallelujah

I will love and have no fear

When I get where I’m going

Yeah, when I get where I’m going

Finish Strong

Those of us who have placed our faith in Jesus Christ have been granted the ability to overcome the world and push our selfish desires aside.  When we love God and love our neighbor, we are completing our assignment from our Father and we are placing ourselves in line for reward in the world to come.

“For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.  Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”  1 John 5:4-5 (NASB)

When we stand strong against the darkness in this world and pursue the teachings of Jesus, our Father in heaven looks on us with pride.  Beyond all else, we should desire to make our Father proud.  As followers of Jesus, we are supported by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to guide our steps and protect us from evil.  We have been provided with all the tools we need for success but it’s up to us to deploy these tools in the appropriate way.

“Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.”  James 1:12 (NASB)

In one of his parables, Jesus teaches that you never know when the day will come and he returns to take you off to heaven.  For this reason, it’s important to always be ready.  Always be diligently following his teachings.  Always be seeking the will of God in your life.  In the end, the best thing we can hope for is a pat on the back from our Father and a loving hug that lets us know we have done well.

“His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’”  Matthew 25:21(NASB)

We should all strive to receive a well-deserved promotion when we finally find our way to our eternal destination.  It should be our goal to reach our full potential in this life so that we will be assured a place of honor in the life to come.

Let this song encourage your spirit.

Well Done – The Afters

Thank you for spending this time worshiping God.

His door is now open to you.  You are in God’s presence.  Don’t leave without Him.  Keep Him with you throughout your day.

Go in peace.

All scripture references are linked to Bible Gateway so that you can read each verse in context.  Bible Gateway allows you to change the verse to your favorite translation and compare it side-by-side with multiple translations.  In addition, you can select to hear an audio version of any verse by clicking on the speaker icon.  Keep the Bible Gateway App on your phone so that you can visit the Word of God at any time during your day.

The Road to Serving God