FINISH WELL
- Olufunmilayo Adekusibe
- 12 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Today’s Readings:
1 Thessalonians 3:7-13
Psalm 90:3-4,12-14,17
Matthew 24:42-51
Life happens. Things you encounter, people you relate with, tragedies, bullying and unsolicited violence can alter the course of your life. But God's grace, ever-present in you, can help you turn these tragedies into moments of triumph. Jesus Himself showed by his resolute faithfulness to the Father that no one on earth is immune to suffering. So, we ought to use these moments of pain and suffering to tap into a deeper, more permanent form of grace. One person who showed himself gracious in using God’s grace is Saint Augustine. His journey to the faith was rough. But once he discovered the beauty of truth, he did not look back.
It is people like him that Jesus describes as “wise and faithful” (Matthew 24:45). Such persons do not allow their sad conditions to determine their destination. Rather, they respond to God’s invitation to stay close to Him. Through the prism of their pain, they shine the light of God’s grace and mercy for others to see. It is possible that you did not start your faith journey well. But it is totally up to you to finish well by making God known and loved through the sharing of your experience and lessons.
Here are some lessons we can learn from Saint Augustine through his writings. Let me know which of them stands out for you.
"God loves each of us as if there were only one of us."
This emphasises God's profound and individual care for each person.
"Faith is to believe what you do not yet see; the reward for this faith is to see what you believe."
This highlights the journey from belief in the unseen to experiencing the reality of what was believed.
"Love is the beauty of the soul."
Augustine claims that true beauty originates from a soul filled with love.
"Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you."
This captures the balance between reliance on divine providence and active human effort.
"The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page."
An encouragement to explore and experience the wider world to gain a broader understanding.
“And even from the womb of my mother, who had great hope in you, I was sealed with the mark of his cross and salted with his salt.”
He eloquently expresses how, even before his birth, his mother’s unwavering faith had already left an indelible mark upon his soul. The imagery of being “sealed with the mark of his cross and salted with his salt” evokes a profound sense of destiny and belonging.
“For you made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in you.”
A profound expression of the inherent human longing for divine purpose and peace.
"What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy."
This practical definition of love emphasises its tangible actions in the world.
"Hope has two beautiful daughters: their names are anger and courage. Anger that things are the way they are. Courage to make them the way they ought to be."
This inspiring quote connects righteous anger at injustice with the courage to effect positive change.
"In doing what we ought, we deserve no praise, because it is our duty."
This emphasises the importance of fulfilling one's responsibilities out of a sense of obligation rather than for personal glory.
For my sin was that I sought out pleasures, grandeurs, and truths not in him but in his creatures, in myself and in others, and thus fell headlong into sorrows, confusion, and errors.
Most of us seek fulfilment in earthly pleasures, ambitions, and human truths rather than God. Augustine’s words remind us of the pitfalls of misplaced priorities, urging us to turn our focus from the fleeting to the eternal.
JUDE-MARY OWOH
To surrender your life to Christ, say this prayer aloud. “Father, I acknowledge my sin against You. I repent and ask for forgiveness, in the name of Jesus. I surrender to the Lordship of Jesus. By the power of Your Holy Spirit, take control of my heart and lead me in Your path of righteousness. Thank you, Lord.”
If you said the prayer, Congratulations! You are welcome to the body of Christ. Prayerfully seek out a living church and meet the resident reverend, pastor, or priest.
Prayer:
I pray that your pains shall gain you salvation. Your traumas will win you trophies of grace. Your sorrows will be drowned by your victories.
And your experiences shall be testimonies of God’s faithfulness, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Your wins shall wipe away your tears, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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