ANGLICAN DAILY FOUNTAIN DEVOTIONAL FOR NOVEMBER 22, 2022 (FINISHING WELL)
TOPIC : ”FINISHING WELL”
Read: Daniel 12(NKJV)
1. “At that time Michael shall stand up, The great prince who stands [watch] over the sons of your people; And there shall be a time of trouble, Such as never was since there was a nation, [Even] to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, Every one who is found written in the book.
2. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some to shame [and] everlasting contempt.
3. Those who are wise shall shine Like the brightness of the firmament, And those who turn many to righteousness Like the stars forever and ever.
4. “But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”
5. Then I, Daniel, looked; and there stood two others, one on this riverbank and the other on that riverbank.
6. And [one] said to the man clothed in linen, who [was] above the waters of the river, “How long shall the fulfillment of these wonders [be?”]
7. Then I heard the man clothed in linen, who [was] above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever, that [it shall be] for a time, times, and half [a time;] and when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these [things] shall be finished.
8. Although I heard, I did not understand. Then I said, “My lord, what [shall be] the end of these [things?”]
9. And he said, “Go [your way,] Daniel, for the words [are] closed up and sealed till the time of the end.
10. “Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand.
11. “And from the time [that] the daily [sacrifice] is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, [there shall be] one thousand two hundred and ninety days.
12. “Blessed [is] he who waits, and comes to the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days.
13. “But you, go [your way] till the end; for you shall rest, and will arise to your inheritance at the end of the days.”
MESSAGE
STUDY: Professor J. Robert Clinton, author of the book, The Making of a Leader, is quoted to have said: “Few leaders in the Bible finished well. Of those on which information was available, less than 30% finished well.” Daniel was one of the few who finished well. Daniel demonstrated unshakable faith in God, for he was said to be without blemish when he was first introduced in the Book (1:1-7).
He manifested this uncompromising faithfulness to the very end. Hence, God promised him: But you, go your way till the end; for you shall rest, and will arise to your inheritance at the end of the days(12:13).
At death, firstly, Daniel was promised rest from his labour, “for you shall rest” (cf Rev. 14:13); and secondly, he was promised the joyful resurrection “…and will arise to your inheritance. This is a promise that he will have a part in the glorious things that will take place after the Second Coming. It should be the great care and concern of every one of us to rest from our labour if Christ tarries, and be partakers of the glorious things that will take place after the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
We must heed Christ’s warning, thus: Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able (Luke 13:24). Like Daniel let us resolve to finish well.
PRAYER: Father, help me to endure to the end and be saved, through Christ our Lord and Saviour. Amen.
The Anglican Communion is the fourth-largest Christian denomination. Founded in 1867 in London, England, the communion currently has 85 million members within the Church of England and other national and regional churches in full communion.
