God's Work Zone

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)

Meditation

I am not as far as God wants me to go in my spiritual walk with Jesus, but I am light years ahead of where I was. I started my journey of faith when I was 44 years old. I was a mature adult but a babe in Christ. I had to learn new things from God’s Word, and discard fallacies that had made up my thoughts about faith in Jesus Christ. God has been patient with me when I backslid more than a couple of times. He also helps me in my times of doubt. My maturity in Christ wouldn’t measure a single drop in the ocean of God’s universe. The Holy Spirit helps me grow a tiny bit everyday but there is no way for me to claim I have completed my journey until that day I meet Jesus face to face. From the first moment I was saved, the Holy Spirit has been at work in me, making me better than I was.

I did not rise up from the waters of baptism with all the knowledge of God, the scriptures and Christianity implanted in my brain. It's a process the Holy Spirit is guiding me through. I started out like babe on mother’s milk. Over the years, with the help of elder Christian teachers, studying God's Word and daily prayer, I matured to eating the meat of scripture. I really appreciate those times when an elder in the faith guided me through difficult to understand concept or doctrine. Had the Holy Spirit not brought the truth to light in my heart, I would not have matured to the point I have. There will never come a time in my life that I have finally learned everything the Lord has to offer.

God wants only what’s good for me. That’s why he gave the Holy Spirit to guide me through life. I know when I pay attention to what the Spirit is trying to show me, I’m better off. He may speak to me through the words of a song, or a preachers sermon, or something that happens during my daily routine. When I stop paying attention, I will inevitably depart from the righteous path. He is faithful to forgive my missteps and put me back on the path. When I’m trying to reach a new level of knowledge of God, he leads me to the scriptures I need to formulate my thoughts. He makes it so I’ll never have to guess or come up with an idea that is outside of orthodoxy. He will continue to direct my steps until the day of Jesus Christ. I look forward to that day, but until it comes, I strive to always grow in my faith.

Daily Prayer

Heavenly Father you have made us your masterpiece. Thank you for taking these filthy, sinful bags of bones and making them clean with the blood of Jesus. None of us deserve to be saved but that’s the beautiful thing about it. Jesus loves us all, no exceptions. Jesus didn’t come to save just the Jews or the lighter skinned, round eyed peoples; he came to save everyone, everywhere, regardless of what we’ve done. Thankfully however, he doesn’t quit after saving us. He gives us the Holy Spirit, who begins a work in us that will take the rest of our lives to complete. Lord you take a bunch of babes in the faith and slowly turn us into the soldiers of your army, carrying your gospel to the world. On the Day of the Lord we will meet Jesus, and all his work will be made complete. All we have to do is believe in him, then eternity is going to be glorious because we will be with you. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen!