Jesus Did Not Do Anything Halfway, Neither Should We

Have a happy and blessed Thanksgiving!

Laughter is when you feel good all over and show it primarily in one place.

"A happy heart makes the face cheerful." Proverbs 15:13

There are some things in life that you just can't do halfway.

Like cooking a turkey. You can't eat a halfway done turkey.

Or mowing grass. The neighbors will notice if the grass is only halfway done.

Or doing dishes. You can't just leave the plates in the soapy water.

Some things require our full attention to detail and the right amount of time to be completed.

But the ironic thing is that we readily give ourselves to the little things in life and often neglect the big things.

We strive to make our cars shine by making sure each square inch has been buffed and waxed.

But sometimes we forget about the child who went without breakfast.

Or the widow alone at home during the holidays.

Or the wife waiting in the glow of a porch light.

We know it's wrong to only halfway mop the floor. But why do we make excuses when we can't go to an elementary play or a high school graduation.

We know it's wrong to only halfway send a text. But why can't we find the time to send a hand-written card to our neighbor.

We do a lot of things halfway in life.

Isn't it amazing that God doesn't?

In Luke 4, Jesus is preaching in His hometown. He declares a year of Jubilee. A time when the captives would be set free. The Good News would be preached to the poor and God's favor would reign in their lives.

They ran him out of town.

That could have easily been a job halfway done.

But Jesus never did anything halfway.

He continued to preach that message. He healed the lame and brought the lost back home. He knew there was one thing so important that couldn't be left halfway finished.

You!

And that's the thing about love. The thing that Jesus was trying to teach us when He took the lashes and carried the cross. When it comes to love, it can never be done halfway.

Real, true love is giving of yourself. Of caring for those who have no hope and rooting for those who have been defeated by life. Of lifting up those who have been knocked down and singing to those who have lost their voice.

Love is something that can't be done halfway. You're either all in or none at all. And that's the kind of love Jesus told us about when He whispered, "It is finished."

As we remember and give thanks for the blessings God has bestowed upon us, say an extra prayer of jubilee and tell God "thank you" for showing us there is no such thing as halfway love.

Let us pray.

Our gracious God. We are so thankful for your love. We stand amazed by the blessings you have given us and rejoice that we live during the time of jubilee. We ask this day that you will show us how to love with grace, show care to those in need and lift up those who have been forgotten. In the precious name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

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The Blessings of Our Lord Jesus Christ Be With You!

PASTOR TROY CONRAD IS MINISTER OF FARMINGTON UNITED METHODIST CHURCH. EMAIL: [email protected].

Religion on 11/25/2015