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DAILY DEVOTIONAL – Tuesday, May 24, 2016
Today’s scripture reading:
The God who began a good work within us continues it throughout our lifetime and will finish it when we meet him face to face. God’s work for us began when Christ died on the cross in our place. His work within 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 Christian growth and maturity that began when we accepted Jesus and continues until Christ returns.
Do you sometimes feel as though you aren’t making progress in your spiritual life? When He [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. He promises to finish the work he has begun. When you feel incomplete, unfinished, or distressed by your shortcomings, remember God’s promise and provision. Don’t let your present condition rob you of the joy of knowing Christ or keep you from growing closer to him. (NLT)
Philippians 1:3-11 – Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. I always pray for you, and I make my requests with a heart full of joy because you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. And I am sure that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on that day when Christ Jesus comes back again.
It is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a very special place in my heart. We have shared together the blessings of God, both when I was in prison and when I was out, defending the truth and telling others the Good News. God knows how much I love you and long for you with the tender compassion of Christ Jesus. I pray that your love for each other will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in your knowledge and understanding. For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until Christ returns. May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—those good things that are produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God.
He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. – Philippians 1:6 (NIV)
Sarah Sanderson (Oregon) titled her story “GOD DOES NOT PANIC;” here is a portion of Sarah’s story:
“. . . These words reminded me that God does not panic. God neither ceases nor hurries but is always present and working in our lives. I had to make a quick decision, but in that moment I was able to remain calm, trusting that God was present with us.
“. . . Of course, we aren’t guaranteed any particular outcome, but we can be confident that even during uncertain times God is continually working for our good.”
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY – God is present and at work, steadily and unceasingly.
Prayer: Dear God, help us to relax in the knowledge that you neither rest nor hurry as you work in our lives. Amen.
To read the rest of the story in The Upper Room, click on the following link: http://devotional.upperroom.org/
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