He Who Began a Good Work in You Won’t Give Up

You are an integral part of the Kingdom of God, and He who began a good work in you will be faithful to bring it to completion- that is a promise from the living, active and powerful Word of God. (Phil. 1:6, Heb. 4:12) Every promise God made in His Word is still in effect, so what’s taking so long? Why is it so hard? You are a clear and present danger to the enemy- even if you do see it… he does! There is something powerful and unique God has put inside of you to plunder hell and populate heaven, but once you begin to step out in faith and operate in the calling God has given you- expect resistance on every level!

“Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. Don’t get sidetracked…” (Proverbs 4:25-27 NLT)

Everyone who walks with the Lord will experience the trials and tribulations that come with living a life committed to Jesus Christ, because of the fallen condition of the world. Even Jesus was subjected to rejection, mockery and scorn because He spoke the truth that very few people wanted to hear. When God has worked in you and through you, there are parts of the “old man” you may still struggle with, but God’s Word always proves true for those who submit to His way and follow His plans. He began a “good work” in you at the moment of your salvation, but He didn’t stop there! There’s always more work to be done and the Lord has need of you, friend.

He Who Began a Good Work in You Sees What You Can’t

The work of salvation was a “good work”, but it isn’t the only work that needs completion, or ‘perfection’. Every day you’ll experience push back from inside yourself, outside yourself and all around you as the enemy works to destroy what the Lord wants to complete. When Jesus started His own ministry, He had traveled all around and “His name went throughout the surrounding region” and He was “glorified by everyone.” (Luke 4:14-15) But when He returned home to share the same message? He was dismissed as “Joseph’s son” and His message was rejected. To top it off? The people who “knew Him when” wanted Jesus to prove that God had, indeed, qualified Him. “Whatever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in Your own country,” they said. (Luke 4:23) They wanted Him to validate Himself or else they wouldn’t believe. Remember, if you always look to other people to validate, qualify or define you, you’ll never know who you really are in Christ. He who began a good work in you knows what He is doing and you can trust His eyes when you’re struggling to see through the eyes of faith.

It is always better to seek the Lord for what He is doing and follow, then to try to tell Him what to do and get in His way.

~Alicia Purdy

Whenever you start to feel like He who began a good work in you just can’t complete it because of all tangles in your life, think about Jesus. He was sinless and He had plenty of tangles! Yet, God the Father was faithful to complete His work, too. For some people, nothing will be good enough! You can do everything right and never please some people. To some, you may always be just “Joseph’s son”. But Jesus didn’t take the bait. Not because He was the Son of God, but because He knew that if GOD started the work, then GOD would be responsible to complete it. Only God’s opinion really meant anything and Jesus had to do what He was called to do, submit the work to the Lord and allow God to complete it.

Thought for today: God Completes Only What God Starts

Jesus had to walk away from those He’d grown up with. He was subjected to their disbelief and criticism, always reminding Him that He was nothing special because they’d seen Him all of His life. Throughout the course of your life there will be many “good works” that God will start in you- works of love, patience, humility, forgiveness, transformation, holiness, faith, worship and more. Don’t condemn yourself and don’t let others condemn you for how God is completing those works in you- but don’t give up either! God has placed His call on your life, and day by day He starts another good work in you, but there will always be naysayers and people who don’t believe you can do it- and you can’t! Only He who began a good work in you can finish what He started. It is always better to see the Lord for what He is doing and follow, then to try to tell Him what to do and get in His way.

You’ll still need to partner with the Lord in the work that He wants to do in you, through you, and for you. For that, you’ll need to stay close to Him in worship, prayer and in His Word- there is no other path! Remember that, “Faithful is He who calls you, who also will do it.” (1 Thessalonians 5:24)

Keep Your Spirit Strong for the Good Work God is Doing in You!

• “It’s Not By Might Nor By Power That You Will Fulfill God’s Plan”
• “Finding Rivers of Living Water in Your Drought Season”
• “Building a Strong Faith Upon Jesus Christ, the Cornerstone”

Don’t forget to pick up a copy of The Way of the Worshipper on Amazon – and AVAILABLE NOW you can also purchase The Way of the Worshipper: A Devotional Workbook for deeper study, personal examination and spiritual growth!