Phi_1:6
God is the one who began this good work in you, and I am certain that he will not stop before it is complete on the day that Christ Jesus returns.
What of Today’s Verse…
Now, we return to the category we are calling “precious promises.” (2Pe_1:4). Here we have a priceless one concerning God’s commitment to complete the wonderful work of salvation that He began at our new birth.
If our faith is in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour, God has started a tremendous saving work on our behalf: “He who has begun a good work in you.”
He has made us new creatures in His Son. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become new” (2Co_5:17). He has supplied us with immeasurable heavenly resources. “Blessed are the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Eph_1:3). What a grand work has been started in us. Yet, God’s saving work is “so great a salvation” (Heb_2:3). Thus, whatever He has already been accomplished with us is only a part of the whole.
Wherever we are in this glorious process, there is some completing work that God desires to do. He wants to bring into our understanding, our character, and our daily experience more of that which is fully ours in Christ.
Furthermore, our God wants us to be confident concerning this matter: “Being confident of this very thing.” As noted in our previous meditation, God does not want people living in self-confidence. That misplaced trust is just another form of pride. This does not mean that we Christians are to be without confidence in our lives. It does mean that all of our confidence is to be placed in the Lord. “And we have such trust [confidence] through Christ toward God” (2Co_3:4). Our Lord wants us to have strong assurance in Him that He will complete this work in us.
Also, remember, this saving work of God is done within our lives: “He who has begun a good work in you will complete it.” The Lord has established an eternal position for us with Him in heavenly places: “and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Eph_2:6). Yet, He wants to effect a godly walk for us here on earth.
“Walk worthy of the calling with which you were called” (Eph_4:1). This walk is not based upon human theories of behaviour modification. Our Lord Himself develops this in and through our hearts. “Now may the God of peace . . . make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight” (Heb_13:20-21).
Let us Pray:
Dear Lord, I long to walk in more of the reality of that which is mine in Christ. Thank You for these words that build my confidence in You. I humbly repent of my self-confident attempts to do what only You can do. I look to You anew and alone!
Words of Wisdom
Your many blessings
How often do you stop to count your blessings? In your daily struggle for more, how often do you feel joyful and thankful for the many, many things you already have?
In your ambitious quest to better your life, be careful that you do not overlook the wealth that you already have. Wealth? Yes, wealth that is very real and very accessible to you.
Did you know that you already have abundant wealth? Perhaps you do not feel like it if you have just paid the bills. Yet each one of us has an abundance that is almost beyond comprehension. The secret is to tap into that abundance and use it to do whatever we want to do.
And the process starts with counting your blessings. Taking stock of the things you have, the things you know, the people in your life, your spirituality, your skills, your opinions, your special perspective on life, your family, your hobbies, your sense of humour, your appreciation for beauty, your caring for others, your concern for those less fortunate, your ability to see opportunity. The list of possibilities is endless, and these things all have value beyond anything you can imagine.
I challenge you to take a good hard look at yourself and to count your blessings. Think of as many of them as you can. Think of the beauty and richness of your life. These things do not require money, power, or position. They all spring from your attitude, the way you react to situations, the way you value others, the way you value life itself.
Right now, within yourself, you have the ability to do anything you want with your life. You have complete control of your behaviour, your actions from minute to minute. Look deep inside yourself and tap into the wealth that lies hidden within you. It is there if only you will look, and the best way to find it is with an attitude of thanksgiving and joy.
