DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- THE COMPLETED LIFE

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – A COMPLETED LIFE

"Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen." (Hebrews 13:20-21)

As the writer to the Hebrews came to the end of his letter, he included some practice exhortation of things that would bring peace and completeness or fulfillment to the Believer's life.

Beginning at verse 1, he encouraged us to be hospitable to strangers, to remember those who are enduring persecution, to keep marriage pure, to be content with what we have, to submit to those who govern over us, to keep sound doctrine, to continually offer praise and thanks to God. These are the marks of a complete or fulfilled and peaceful Christian. Certainly there are other marks, but these are good for starters.

We have our part in the growth process, but we need to remember that God is working in us to do what is pleasing to Him so that we will bring glory and praise to Him.

The word "complete" is translated in the KJV as "perfect." This is not the same as being without sin. It is to be thoroughly complete, to strengthen, to make us what we ought to be. This word, katartidzo, is used in other places in the context of mending something that is torn. Jesus came and found James and John "mending their nets" (Matthew 4:21).

We are all torn in some way or another and need mending and healing to make us complete or whole. God works in us to mend our lives and bring us to completeness.

Love, Dad