The Finishing Touch: Becoming God's Masterpiece: A Daily Devotional

by Charles R. Swindoll

In fast-food society we long for quick fixes and easy answers. But no worthwhile goal is easily reached, and a deep spiritual life is not created in a week or two. It takes perseverance over the long haul to finish well. The Finishing Touch encourages you to keep on keeping on to reach your goals and reap the harvest of a life worth living. Charles Swindoll challenges today's I'm-getting-tired-so-let's-just-quit mentality. He says, "Dieting is a discipline, so we stay fat. Finishing school is a hassle, so we bail out. Cultivating a close relationship is painful, so we back off. Working through conflicts in a marriage is a tiring struggle, so we walk away. Sticking with an occupation is tough, so we change jobs. . . . what we don't hear about is finishing well. About sticking with something until it is done." God wants to touch us and be our strength in the struggle. He wants us to finish what we started and complete the course. The Finishing Touch takes you through every day of a year, introducing you to God's touches of grace, joy, and love. As a sculptor applies himself to the marble, and keeps chipping and cutting away to reveal the masterpiece within, so the Master Artist wants to use our trials, hard times, and day-to-day struggles to chip away at our faults and to help us discover the potential treasures within us. Daily devotionals for fifty-two weeks help you discover gut-level authenticity, hope in the midst of despair, courage in the face of fear, the light of faith in the shadows of doubt, and peace in the midst of stress. Learn how God's touch on your life enables you to run the race to the finish?to the honor and glory of the Master who has called you to be more than you think you can be.

Genres: Devotional, Christian, Religion, Christian Living, Nonfiction, Personal Development

640 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 1994

About the author

Charles Swindoll has devoted over four decades to two passions: an unwavering commitment to the practical communication and application of God's Word, and an untiring devotion to seeing lives transformed by God's grace. Chuck graduated magna cum laude from Dallas Theological Seminary and has since been honored with four doctorates. For his teaching on Insight for Living, he has received the Program of the Year award and the Hall of Fame award from the National Religious Broadcasters as well as multiple book awards.

Reviews

[Jeff · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have to say that I was disappointed in this devotional. I expected more depth and encouragement from Swindoll, but, for the most part, what I got was "snarky" criticism of almost everything, with a few actually inspiring readings thrown in. Not nearly as encouraging as his other work that I have read over the years.

I did like the divisions into weeks, but that could work out not so well if one didn't begin at the beginning of the year, and it just so happened that 2018 began on a Monday, so that worked out perfectly for me.

As for the part divisions, there were four. The Touch of Grace, The Touch of Joy, The Touch of Love, and The Touch of the Master. I found no reason for those divisions at all. The readings within the four divisions had no over-riding theme that related to the titles. They were there, apparently, just for decoration.

I realize this all sounds harsh, but when I spend a year reading something, devoting that much time to it, especially from such a great writer as Swindoll, I expect more. This was a relatively shallow devotional.

It may be great for some, but at this stage of my spiritual life (this is going to sound incredibly arrogant, but please trust me, I don't mean it this way), I'm seeking more depth and intimacy, as well as ways to help me in spiritual formation and the disciplines. This book gave me none of that.

[Adam Nelson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love Chuck Swindoll, I really do, but this devotional study tended toward a popular, well-intended, and ultimately misguided paradigm in the church, which is to take an adversarial, issues-oriented stance against culture. The other part of that paradigm is this residual sense of guilt that we aren't doing enough for Jesus, also misguided, and I think Chuck himself would look back on this and realize some of it missed the point. I quit in week three or four, when the devotional seemed to be centered on little more than a condemnation of Magic Johnson and all those who admire him. Not sure how that was supposed to help me "live the life", but I don't need that sort of thing. It does not edify, it does not point to Jesus, and it most certainly does nothing to show modern world culture our love.

[Cheryle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I HAVE HAD THIS BOOK FOR SEVERAL YEARS. THIS YEAR I STARTED IT AS MY MORNING DEVOTIONS. ALTHOUGH I FINISHED BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR IT HAS BEEN AN INSPIRATION THROUGHOUT THIS 2016. SOME OF THE MATERIAL IS A LITTLE DATED, BUT THE TRUTHS THIS AUTHOR IS EXPOUNDING ARE STILL RELEVANT. RECOMMEND FOR ANYONE WHO IS LOOKING FOR APPLYING THE SCRIPTURES TO EVERY DAY LIFE PROVIDING THE FINISHING TOUCH.

[Courtney Dean]

This is an absolutely AMAZING devotion. Dr. Swindoll writes with such transparency and sincerety of heart that it compells the reader to read and "re-read."

[Shannon Maddox · Rating 2 out of 5]

Please see my review here:

http://iron-diva.blogspot.com/2017/08...

Thanks.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rated: B
Just really love Chuck Swindoll -- love his preaching, love his writing. Good work daily devotional with weekend read. Written from the heart and his experience with life and the Lord. Couple of pages each day with an extra page at end of week divided into quarterly sections of 13 weeks. Each day what you read leaves you uplifted and at peace. A keeper.

[Ronald Spitzer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good timeless daily devotional. This is copyright 1994 and it works in 2020 and 2021. Yes this took me over a year to use in a book set up to take one year. The time problem was not this book, it was me. I recommend this book and I'm glad I found it in a used bookstore.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I used this as a daily devotional. Classic Swindoll, some humor, and down to earth apply-the-Bible-to-your-daily-life wisdom. Many times I was challenged.

[Ieremià · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good