HE WHO BEGAN A GOOD WORK IN YOU - Salvation is God's work, not yours. God is sovereign in his salvation initiative. His work is a good work, and it's a sure work. You can rest in your Creator's capable hands. ”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 (ESV) Paul encouraged the Christians in Philippi with these confident words. He had no doubt whatsoever that God would finish the good work he had begun in their lives. How does God complete his good work in us? We find the answer in Christ's words: "Abide in me." Jesus taught his disciple to remain in him: ”Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. ”I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:4-5, ESV) What does it mean to abide in Christ? Jesus instructed his disciples to stay connected to him. He is the source of our life, the true vine, from which we grow and develop into completion. Jesus is the fountain of living water from which our lives flow. Abiding in Jesus Christ means connecting with him every morning, every evening, every moment of the day. We keep ourselves so interlinked with God’s life that others can't tell where we end and God begins.

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'He Who Began a Good Work in You'

Salvation is God's work, not yours. God is sovereign in his salvation initiative. His work is a good work, and it's a sure work. You can rest in your Creator's capable hands.

By Mary Fairchild

 

 

”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 (ESV)

 

 

Today's Inspiring Thought: He Who Began a Good Work in You

Paul encouraged the Christians in Philippi with these confident words. He had no doubt whatsoever that God would finish the good work he had begun in their lives.

How does God complete his good work in us?

We find the answer in Christ's words: "Abide in me."

Jesus taught his disciple to remain in him: 

”Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.

”I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:4-5, ESV)

What does it mean to abide in Christ? Jesus instructed his disciples to stay connected to him.

He is the source of our life, the true vine, from which we grow and develop into completion. Jesus is the fountain of living water from which our lives flow.

Abiding in Jesus Christ means connecting with him every morning, every evening, every moment of the day.

We keep ourselves so interlinked with God’s life that others can't tell where we end and God begins.

We spend time alone in God's presence and feast daily on his life-giving Word. We sit at the feet of Jesus and listen to his voice.

We give thanks and praise him continually. We worship him as often as we are able. We gather together with other members of the body of Christ.

We serve him; we obey his commands, we love him. We follow him and make disciples. We give joyfully, serve others freely, and love all people. 

When we are firmly connected to Jesus, abiding in the vine, he can make something beautiful and complete with our lives. He does a good work, creating us anew in Jesus Christ as we abide in his love.

God's Work of Art

Did you know you are God’s work of art? He had plans in mind for you long ago, even before he made you:

”For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10, ESV)

Artists know that creating something beautiful — a true work of art — takes time. Each task requires an investment of the artist's creative self. Each work is unique, unlike any of his or her others.

The artist starts with a rough sketch, a swatch, an outline. Then little by little as the artist works with his creation carefully, painstakingly, lovingly, in time a beautiful masterpiece emerges.

”Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous — how well I know it.” (Psalm 139:14, NLT)

Many artists tell stories of complex works of art that took years and years to complete. Likewise, it takes years of abiding and daily connecting with the Lord for God to complete the good work he began in you.

The Day of Jesus Christ

As believers, we are to be growing in the Christian life a little each day. This process is called sanctification. Spiritual growth continues in committed and connected believers until the day Jesus Christ returns to the earth. God’s redeeming and renewing work will reach its climax on that day.

So, let me extend Paul's reassuring message of support to you today: God will fulfill — he will bring to completion — the good work he started in you.

What a relief! It's not up to you. God is the One who started it, and he is the One who will complete it.

Salvation is God's work, not yours. God is sovereign in his salvation initiative. His work is a good work, and it's a sure work. You can rest in your Creator's capable hands.

Mary Fairchild

Christianity Expert

Education

General Biblical Studies, Interdenominational Christian Training Center

Introduction

Christian minister since 1988 with General Biblical Studies and Missions degrees

Full-time writer and editor specializing in Christianity, Bible study, and Christian living since 2005

Author and general editor of "Stories of Calvary"

Experience

Mary Fairchild has worked full time in Christian ministry since 1988. While in Bible School, she worked for a major city church as the assistant to the dean of Christian education. Next, Mary served on the foreign mission field in Brazil from 1990-1994. Upon returning to the States, Mary became a pastoral assistant and office manager for a large intercity church.

Mary worked as the general editor on several Christian books and booklets for Calvary Chapel St. Petersburg from 2006 until 2017. Recently, Mary joined the team of writers for GotQuestions.org, where she provides responses to questions related to the nature of God, the Scriptures, salvation, and other spiritual topics.

Education

Mary received a General Biblical Studies degree from an Interdenominational Christian Training Center in Central Florida. She also holds a Missions degree from Youth With A Mission Discipleship Training School. 

Publications

"Stories of Calvary" (2008, Winepress Publishing)

"Exposing Samson" (General Editor, 2009, Calvary Chapel St. Petersburg)

A Message from Mary Fairchild

As a writer, my greatest passion is to study and expound on the Word of God. I’ve made it my goal to offer practical, applicable resources for living the Christian faith with authenticity in today's world. Inspired by the words of the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 1:12, I’ve adopted this purpose: "Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ." 

Learn Religions and Dotdash

Our mission at Learn Religions is to help you explore the practices of your own faith, understand your neighbor’s beliefs, and familiarize yourself with the world’s major religions — regardless of your own spiritual background.

Learn Religions is part of the Dotdash family.

For more than 20 years, Dotdash brands have been helping people find answers, solve problems, and get inspired. We are one of the top-20 largest content publishers on the Internet according to comScore, and reach more than 30% of the U.S. population monthly. Our brands collectively have won more than 20 industry awards in the last year alone, and recently Dotdash was named Publisher of the Year by Digiday, a leading industry publication.

https://www.thoughtco.com/god-starts-he-completes-day-89-701935

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