COMMISSIONED TO CONTINUE and to complete

LEONARDO DA VINCI started work on a large canvas in his studio. He worked at choosing the subject, planning the perspective, sketching the outlines and applying colours with his own inimitable genius.  Then he stopped work, the painting merely outlines with a few splashes of colour, very far from finished. He summoned one of his students and invited him to complete the work.

The student protested, saying he was unworthy to complete the painting which the great master had begun, but da Vinci silenced him with the words

“Will not what I have done inspire you to do your very best?”

Our incredibly amazing, omnipotent Father God says the same to all His blood-bought, adopted children.

He commissions us to “Go”  and to “teach” and to “make disciples” and He has equipped us with all that is necessary to accomplish the task. He has commissioned us to exercise the MINISTRY of RECONCILIATION

2 Corinthians 5:18-20  NASB
Now all these things are from God,
who RECONCILED us to Himself through Christ and
GAVE US THE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION,
namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself,
not counting their trespasses against them,
and He has COMMITTED TO US the WORD OF RECONCILIATION.  Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ,
as though God were making an appeal through us;
we beg you on behalf of Christ,
be reconciled to God.

“Will not what I have done inspire you to do your very best?”

Our omnipotent, creator God planned His work of reconciling sinful mankind to Himself even before He laid the foundations of the earth [Ephesians 1:4]   He promised a Redeemer to Adam and Eve after they sinned [Genesis 3:15] and throughout the centuries God repeated His promise to many people on many occasions.  And in due time . . .

Galatians 4:4-5
When the fullness of time was come,
God sent forth His Son, born of a woman . . .
to redeem those who were under the Law,
that we might receive the adoption of sons.

1 John 4:14
The Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.

Jesus Christ came to the world to make it possible for us to be reconciled with God.  He paid the price to redeem us.

1 Peter 1:18-20 tells us
you were not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold,
but with the precious blood of Christ,
as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot,
who was foreordained before the foundation of the world.

His redemption was complete.  His triumphant cry from the cross “It is finished” [John 19:30] tells us that His work of redemption was finished, and as a result it is forever done. Jesus became “The Way” – the ONLY Way to be reconciled with God [John 14:6]

His work is finished.  Nothing else is required.  Redemption is won, but He has given us the privilege of “finishing the work” of making His truth known by proclaiming His message to the world.

Many masters, like da Vinci, started paintings which were then passed to their students to complete.  What an enormous privilege for them. I’m sure they gave it their very best efforts.  Can we do less?

“Will not what I have done inspire you to do your very best?”

Christ has no hands but our hands
To do His work today.
He has no feet but our feet
To lead men in His way.
He has no tongue but our tongue
To tell men how He died.
He has no help but our help
To bring them to His side.
Annie Johnson Flint

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