Skip to main content

IT IS FINISHED. THE JOB IS DONE.

This is a post from March of 2013 - a good one for Holy Week I'm thinking. 


Are you a doer?   By that I mean, are you task-oriented?  I am.  I . . . do.  What I don’t get done, someone else has to do.  You know what I mean?  I have TONS of projects in my head that need to be done.  Pray for my husband, please J !

As a Christian, being a “doer” is a good thing – most times.  I mean there is work to be done in the church – and the church NEEDS doers.  “The harvest is plenty, the workers are few “  you know that verse.  So, I’m needed as a doer.  Being a “doer” completes me.  It’s who I am. 

But in the kingdom of God, as far as grace goes, there is nothing to be done.  I can’t do anything to get grace or to earn it, so to speak.  Grace has nothing to do with me.  It has everything to do with God.  So, as far as grace is concerned, the job is done already.   It is finished.

But wait, what I am supposed to do then?  Just sit here?  I gotta do something!

John 17 says:

After Jesus said this, He looked toward heaven and prayed:
 “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son may glorify You. For You granted Him authority over all people that He might give eternal life to all those You have given him.  Now this is eternal life: that they know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.  I have brought You glory on earth by finishing the work You gave me to do.  And now, Father, glorify Me in Your presence with the glory I had with You before the world began.”

The work, the job has been done.  Jesus did it.  He came to this earth to finish what ultimately needed to be done for our salvation.  As far as our salvation goes, the job is done.  It is finished.

Sometimes, (most times), I have to tell myself that there is nothing I can do to earn my way into heaven.  I can’t “do” anything to earn this – just sit there, Debi.  Just listen, Debi.  Just be, Debi.  I pray over and over for a quiet spirit that will just “be”.  Not “do”.  Do you hear what I am saying?  "Doing" is not what you are all about.  Its not WHO you are.

I am a follower of the Lord, Jesus Christ.  His Child.  I am accepted and adopted into His kingdom. I am a forgiven, blessed, redeemed woman, washed by the blood of the Lamb.  That is WHO I am.  That is WHO you are! (Guys, please take the “wo” out! J)

This grace, this “job” that Jesus did, brings a peace of mind, a kind of satisfaction that nothing else could ever give me.  For it is the greatest job of all, don’t you think? 

As He hung on the cross, after being stripped, beaten, and scourged (being whipped with a whip made with thongs of metal pieces or bones), He declared,
 

IT IS FINISHED!

 
and died. 


There are no words left. 
 

Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips.  When He had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.   John 19

 
The job is done.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

It all started before that.

As she talked, I sat there amazed.   Not at what she was saying, but at who she had become.   Confident.   Godly.   Faithful.    Respected.   It just hit me that she is now a leader in our church.    A true leader.   The next generation of leaders, in fact. But wait -- is this the same young woman who God brought into our lives a little over 10 years ago?   The anxious, nervous, only-just-started-going-to- church- wanting-to-please-everyone young woman my son introduced us to?   Watching her confidently taking her seat, I started thinking of those first days . . .   and seriously, my breath caught in my throat.   How amazing God is!   He molds, He holds.   He shapes and He grows.   And He does this over and over – and it still amazes me.   That got me to thinking.   God’s amazing work in my life didn’t start with my daughter-in-love.   It started before that.   It starte...
1 comment
Read more

I prayed for toilet paper.

    I left for a LONG walk by myself recently while vacationing at my sister's place.   Armed with a bottle of water, it was a perfect morning to get away.  The sun was shining and the birds were singing - what could be better??   Having walked this path before, I didn't have a worry in the world. Praying, humming and taking in as much of God's creation as I could, all was good.   Well, until . .   My bladder was full and no bathroom was in sight.   I figured I was still about two miles away from the nearest bathroom.   What to do?   Two miles is a LONG WAY when you gotta go.   Some of you know EXACTLY what I mean.   Or maybe you don't have problems like this and if you did, you at least wouldn't tell anybody about it.   But the older I get, the more of a problem it is.   And the older I get, I know that EVERY event in life has a lesson.   Yes, even one like this   So I did what an...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Joyces of My Life

Have you ever had someone in your life who truly showed joy, no matter the circumstance?  How about someone who has made a profound influence?  I can honestly say that I have had two, and they both have the name "Joyce" - hence, the title of this post - The Joyces of My Life. First of all, Joyce ( my stepmom) came into my life when she married my dad.  My life was pretty unstable with my mother, but we all made the best of it.  Once I graduated from high school, I moved in with Dad and Joyce. Life happened, I got married, had some kids, you know the drill.   When I think back, there's nothing specific I remember, except  her constant-ability.  She was always there for me.  Period.  When you meet someone who lets you into their heart, bears her own heart and soul, while introducing you to Jesus, your life changes.  At least mine did.  Her love for Jesus and scripture was evident and contagious.  I wanted in - all...
Post a Comment
Read more