Thought for Thursday
Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6
Go back in your mind to the day you were saved; relive some of those early moments when God’s Salvation became precious to you. Remember the thrill of the first love for your Saviour, and the excitement of entering into the reality of eternal life. All that involved a tremendous change in you at that time, according to today’s text, was just the beginning. The same God Who saved and changed you at that time has not slacked from His efforts. He is continuing that great work which was so well begun on the day you first believed.
How does God continue this work in us? By the work of His Holy Spirit, Who now dwells within us. The Spirit’s work is to bring us into ever closer conformity with the image of Jesus Christ. This work can be hindered by us as we quench the Spirit by allowing our own wills to rule our lives. But if we submit to the will of the Lord Jesus, the Spirit is able to do His work, and we grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus.
The Holy Spirit never ceased performing the good work that began with our salvation. As we look back over our life, we can see those periods of spiritual growth or stagnation, depending on our yielding to the Spirit. We can discern those times when our knowledge of the Word increased, when our appreciation of precious truths deepened, when our commitment to God’s work and God’s people became real and purposeful. That great work that began with Salvation is continuing, and we grow.
But there is a daily aspect of the Spirit’s work in us. Each day is a failure or success, depending on our submission to Him. Each day brings us the opportunity to do small and great things for our Lord, to enjoy His presence and His people, and to commit ourselves to His plan for our lives. Regardless of how well we have allowed God to perform His work in us in the past, we can enjoy His work in our lives today.
God longs to perform His work in our hearts today; let us give Him free reign to do so. -Jim MacIntosh