Finishing Well

Deuteronomy 6:4-8

“Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates."

We see that our faith is supposed to be a lifestyle – when we talk, sit, walk & lie down. We teach as we walk by the way – I call this a walk about. There have been many men and women that have had an influence on my journey. My most memorable walk about was living life with my Dad. He taught us thru everyday life experiences about God – work, reputation, character, sex, marriage, & hunting.

Another was a group of elderly men – I held a bible study in one of their homes. They ranged in age from 70 to mid 90’s. We worked thru books of the Bible on Wednesday nights for almost 15 years. They were loaded for bear each week. I was the teacher and was sliced and diced. I learned so much from these men pouring their lives into me and pointing me always to God. Most of them including my dad have since passed away. Their mark is still on my soul. I have a deeper appreciation for God and His word because of them.

In my father’s last year, we would sit outside on the swing and discuss scripture for a while before I headed back to Atlanta. He began to lament – "I just want to finish well" - he did. Now it's my focus to strive toward this goal.

From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets,

the name of the LORD is to be praised.

Psalm 113:3