Coming Short
Today’s Verse:
Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. ~Hebrews 4:1
In a basketball game where the score is very tight and it is in the final seconds, both teams know that coming up short on a basket opportunity will make or break their chance of winning. When we come short, we are lacking, missing, and incomplete. There are some things we want to be careful that we do not come short in to our detriment.
We see the possibilities.
“But this I say, brethren, the time is short....” Time is the most precious asset we have. It is the one commodity that we never have enough of. We can come up short on time if we waste time. Wasted time is due to a lack of vision, purpose, and planning. Wasted time is when we spend our time on things that do not have a high priority. We can come up short on time if we procrastinate. Putting things off to another day when we should do them now causes us to miss valuable opportunities. We are called to redeem the time, for the days are evil. We must pray, “Teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” Look at the possibilities, seize them, and don’t let them pass you up.
We see the performance.
The “rest” of the Christian life speaks of claiming our inheritance. Joshua led Israel to conquer the land of Canaan to take possession, which God promised them. There were battles that they had to fight. There is much for us to claim as we walk our pilgrim journey. There is praying that we must do. There is faith that we must exercise. There are giants that we will face. There are obstacles and problems that stand between us and a victorious Christian life. There is more Christlikeness that we must attain. However, we should not be afraid, but instead, we should courageously have faith in God, obey Him, and go forward. Let us not allow anything to hinder us from finishing our race.
We see the perfection.
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” The glory of God is perfection, His holiness, and the perfected essence of Who God is. The sinful nature of man falls short of the glory of God. Falling short of the glory of God places every man under the condemnation of God. We are already declared guilty and condemned. However, God’s perfection sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to earth to die for our sins. Through His atoning death, Jesus reconciled us to God. We must place our faith in Jesus’ shed blood, death, and resurrection from the dead in order to be saved. Once we are saved, we have attained the righteousness which is by faith. Once this happens, where we came up short is no longer an issue. If you’re not saved, get saved today so that you can have the righteousness which is by faith.
We see the power.
We want to be diligent in not coming short of God’s power. This can happen when we neglect our time with God and, especially, when our prayer life is deficient. Coming short of God’s power makes us ineffective in walking in the Spirit, our personal witness, our personal work, and our preaching. Let us go from coming up short to being filled and ready for God to use us. Be diligent so that you do not come up short.
Have a fulfilled God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Job 38-39
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