 |
 |
|
|||||
|
|
|||||
| >>> | |||||
Philippians 1:6 - Jesus Can Do It! - Will You Let Him?Philippians 1:6 (NLT) And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.INTRODUCTION God initiated our salvation, continues his transforming work in us throughout our lifetimes, and will finish it when we meet him face-to-face. God's work for us began when Christ Jesus died on the cross in our place. His work in us began when we first believed. Now the Holy Spirit lives in us, enabling us to be more like Christ every day. Paul is describing the process of becoming more like Jesus that began when we accepted him and will continue until we are united with him forever. Do you sometimes feel as though you aren't making enough progress in your spiritual life? When God starts a project, he completes it! As with the Philippians, God will help you grow in grace until he has completed his work in your life. When you are discouraged, remember that God won't give up on you. When you feel incomplete, unfinished, or distressed by your shortcomings, remember God's promises and provision. Don't let your present, imperfect condition rob you of the joy of knowing Christ Jesus or keep you from growing closer to him. [Life Application SB 2019] COMMENTARY PEARL There are those who have known the pardoning love of Christ and who really desire to be children of God, yet they realize that their character is imperfect, their life faulty, and they are ready to doubt whether their hearts have been renewed by the Holy Spirit. To such I would say, Do not draw back in despair. We shall often have to bow down and weep at the feet of Jesus because of our shortcomings and mistakes, but we are not to be discouraged. Even if we are overcome by the enemy, we are not cast off, not forsaken and rejected of God. No; Christ is at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Said the beloved John, "These things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." 1 John 2:1. And do not forget the words of Christ, "The Father Himself loveth you." John 16:27. He desires to restore you to Himself, to see His own purity and holiness reflected in you. And if you will but yield yourself to Him, He that hath begun a good work in you will carry it forward to the day of Jesus Christ. Pray more fervently; believe more fully. As we come to distrust our own power, let us trust the power of our Redeemer, and we shall praise Him who is the health of our countenance. SC64-5 COMMENTARY Clay Fit for a King An Amazing Fact: Ceramics are classified based on the temperature used to fire them - the higher the heat, the more durable the ceramic piece will be. Porcelain is a high-fire ceramic, fired at temperatures ranging from 2,000 to 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit. As a result, it is pressure resistant to 5,000 kilograms per centimeter squared. In other words, a railroad car weighing around 11 tons could be placed on top of a two centimeter square piece of porcelain without breaking the porcelain. The process of making a piece of fine porcelain - a product as strong as it is beautiful - is anything but comfortable. First, a piece is molded or turned on a wheel. Then an artisan removes sharp edges, such as seams, from a mold. Next a piece is annealed (heated and gradually cooled), which leaves it as hard as leather. Then it is glazed and fired in the kiln. After firing, rough patches are polished. Sometimes accents are added, like a metallic trim on fine china. The results of this uncomfortable process are fantastic! Porcelain tiles have graced the walls of palaces, and fine china has decorated the tables of kings. God's process with His people is similar. Just as the artisan is in complete control of the clay, God is in complete control of our lives: "O Lord, You are our Father; We are the clay, and You our potter; And all we are the work of your hand" (Isaiah 64:8). Just as the clay must be fired before it is useful, God's people must repent of their sins before they can become all He intends. Isaiah recognized this and pled with God: "Do not be furious, O Lord, Nor remember iniquity forever; Indeed, please look - we are all Your people!" (Isaiah 64: 9). Just as fine porcelain eventually becomes both beautiful and strong, God will not give up on His people until they have become what He desires for them. [Moving Mountains by Amazing Facts] ILLUSTRATION I share a love of gardening with my parents. When they called to let me know they'd be coming to Idaho this spring, I got really excited. I love visiting with my parents, but I also love how they help me in my yard. In the past three years, my backyard has gone from a rectangular patch of hard-packed soil to a lush lawn, four vegetable beds, three decorative trees, three fruit trees, and two flower beds that hug the back of the house. This is largely due to my parents. Mom is the visionary, and Dad is the muscle. Each time they've visited, we've worked together to add beauty to the space. And we're going to keep working. As my mom says, "There's always room for more flowers." Jesus has been working in the hard-packed soil of my life for a whole lot longer than three years. I have lots of hopes and dreams and tons of plans for my life. But Jesus is both the visionary and the muscle when it comes to changing my heart. He has begun good work in me. And He promises that He will finish what He started and make all spaces of my life more beautiful. There's always more room in my life for Jesus. Susanna Foth Aughtmon Faith Step: Think about what Jesus is doing in the soil of your life. Meditate on Philippians 1:4-6 and be confident knowing He will finish the work He has started in you. [Mornings With Jesus 2024 Devotional by Guideposts and Zondervan] CLOSING THOUGHT The Divine Artist Some years ago my wife and I enjoyed a dinner in the Texas hill country home of Gerald Jones. You've possibly heard his professional name: G. Harvey. He was one of the finest artists in America. His house contained wall after wall of original paintings. Frame after frame of perfection. Behind the house was his studio, a workroom of unfinished paintings. Partially painted canvases. People with no heads. Mountains with no peaks. Now, I'm far from an art connoisseur, but even I knew better than to say, "Hey, Gerald, this tree is half-finished." Or "You forgot to paint legs on this horse." The artist wasn't finished yet. The Divine Artist isn't finished either. The earth is his studio. Every person on earth is one of his projects. Every event on earth is part of his great mural. He is not finished. This life contains many journeys between prayer offered and prayer answered. But Jesus promises a sure blessing at the end of the journey. Keep believing. God's not finished yet. [You Can Count On God by Max Lucado] LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY Philippians 1:6 - Jesus Can Do It! - Will You Let Him? https://www.abible.com/devotions/2024/20241129-1601.html http://www.abible.com/devotions/2021/20211110-0842.html Jeremiah 18:4 - God Is The Potter; We Are The Clay. https://www.abible.com/devotions/2024/20240310-0834.html https://www.abible.com/devotions/2005/20050627-1037.html Philippians 3:13, 14 - JESUS - The Clear Objective! https://www.abible.com/devotions/2024/20240120-0801.html LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT https://abible.com/links/ |