“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”  Philippians 1:6

“… continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.”  Philippians 2:12a-13

We become more like Jesus in partnership with God. He ignites passion for Jesus, but we must also fan the flame. He initiates the next good work He wants to accomplish in us for our benefit and His glorification, but we must “work it out … with fear and trembling.”

If God is watching and waiting to take advantage of every time our heart opens honestly before Him — longing for every chance to release good gifts to us — then it’s not all up to Him. We must “continue” to come before Him, seek Him, and then follow through on what He instructs.

The next thing God wants you to do is always the best thing for you.

If you don’t follow through on the last thing God asked you to do, you miss out on an incredible opportunity for spiritual growth. If He has presented a lesson to be learned and an action to be taken, and you have not yet stepped out in faith, you will remain at your present state of spiritual growth or even regress.

Feeling guilty? Throw that thought away! Your sins are already covered and paid for. But know that today is your chance to experience the next best thing God has for you. He loves us dearly and He’s used to dealing with slow learners (which is every one of us), so it is not too late.

The Apostle Paul reminded the Philippian Christians what their reward would be:

“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.” Philippians 1:9-11

This will be our reward too as we continue to listen, trust, and obey.

Dear Jesus, please help me understand the next thing You want me to do to become more like You, and please give me the courage to respond obediently. Amen.

By Mike Jantzen
Used by permission

also available on:  www.thelife.com/dailydevotions

RELATED READING

He Who Began a Good Work by Phil Ware

More and More Like Him by Bill Bright

Into His Likeness by Max Lucado

The post The Next Best Thing appeared first on Thoughts About God.

I don’t like myself when I mess up but I am reminded God’s grace is there for me and I can do better with His help. I want to do better.

I am flawed. Every day I miss the mark. Every day I lose patience and say things the wrong way which means I should not have said them at all.

I keep messing up. Last week I forgot to pray for someone I assured I would remember their prayer request. I saw her at church and the stress of her situation was written across her face and I was reminded that I need to pray. I was also reminded of my negligence.

I stand in the line at the grocery store and chit chat with the cashier or another person in line with me and forget to share the Lord in some way when God opens the door and gives me a moment to open my mouth and be a light in a dark world. When I get in my car and pull out of the parking lot I shake my head disappointed in myself because I let that moment slip out of my hands.

I have negative and critical thoughts about someone and then I am filled with guilt. I should know better. I do know better, and yet…there were those negative and critical thoughts exploding in my mind.

The list is endless.

There is bad news and there is good news.

Bad news: I have flaws and I mess up—consistently. I am not perfect. Not even close. Sometimes I am just a big mess.         

Good news: I am a sinner saved by grace. Then the good news gets even better. There is someone who is perfect. Jesus is the perfect one. He perfectly loves me every day. He loves me although I am flawed and when I miss the mark. I am desperate for this kind of love and He offers it to me freely every day.

I don’t like myself when I mess up but I am reminded God’s grace is there for me and I can do better with His help. I want to do better. God is patient with me and He continues to work in me to make me more like Him. This gives me hope. I am deeply thankful there is hope and grace for this flawed heart of mine.

Philippians 1:6 “Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

By Kathy Cheek
Used by Permission

Further Reading

•  Fast Of Words: A Different Kind of Fast
•  How to Fall in Love with Jesus by Sylvia Gunter
•  Salvation Explained

The post Trading Flaws for Grace appeared first on Thoughts About God.