Clergy/Leaders' Mail-list No. 3-146 (Devotional)

LEAVING NOTHING UNDONE

by Peter Kennedy

'As the Lord commanded his servant Moses, so Moses commanded Joshua, and Joshua did it; he left nothing undone of all that the Lord commanded Moses.' - Joshua 11:15

Dr. Leonard Sweet, of United Theological Seminary, wrote the following:

One of our students received an appointment from a bishop, and the student did not feel the placement exactly suited his abilities. I overheard him complaining about it to another student, and then the other student said, "You know, the world's a better place because Michelangelo did not say, 'I don't do ceilings.' "

Her comment stopped me dead in my tracks. I had to admit she was right. If you and I are going to be faithful to the ministry God is calling us to, then we had better understand that.

I reflected on the attitudes of key people throughout the Scriptures and the history of the church. The world's a better place because a German monk named Martin Luther did not say, "I don't do doors." The world's a better place because an Oxford don named John Wesley didn't say, "I don't do preaching in fields." The world's a better place because Moses didn't say, "I don't do Pharaohs or mass migrations." The world's a better place because Noah didn't say, "I don't do arks and animals." The world's a better place because Rahab didn't say, "I don't do enemy spies." The world's a better place because Ruth didn't say, "I don't do mothers-in-law." The world's a better place because Samuel didn't say, "I don't do mornings." The world's a better place because David didn't say, "I don't do giants." The world's a better place because Peter didn't say, "I don't do Gentiles." The world's a better place because John didn't say, "I don't do deserts." The world's a better place because Mary didn't say, "I don't do virgin births." The world's a better place because Paul didn't say, "I don't do correspondence." The world's a better place because Mary Magdalene didn't say, "I don't do feet." The world's a better place because Jesus didn't say, "I don't do crosses."

And the world will be a better place only if you and I don't say, "I don't do ..."

When the Lord calls, we are to answer Him and follow Him to completion. We are not called to make excuses. Today in prayer, ask the Lord what is He calling you to do and then eagerly seek to do His will.

'It is one thing to begin to apply the principles of spiritual growth to your Christian life; but it is another to follow through to victory.' - John Hamby

God's Word: 'He held fast to the Lord and did not cease to follow him; he kept the commands the Lord had given Moses.' - 2 Kings 18:6

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DEVOTIONS IN JOSHUA, JUDGES AND RUTH

Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2003, Devotional E-Mail

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