A Nugget from New Life Network
Scripture for the Day (July 27, 2018)
But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. (2 Peter 3:18)
I will never forget the first time I was asked to pray in a public church setting. I was a fairly new Christian and I had always been very shy. It was not pretty. It was disjointed and went far afield of what I was asked to pray about. I was devastated at my performance and of course the enemy jumped on me with both feet telling me how sorry a Christian I was and that I would never make it in my walk with God. That is just what the enemy does. He is the accuser of the brethren. He will condemn you every chance he gets.
Well, when I finally settled down enough to pray about the situation God had a totally different take on the matter. As I prayed about this situation, this is what God said to me. “Why are you so concerned about what I’m not finished with yet”? That’s all I needed to hear. That told me that it was not a big deal to Him. It also reminded me that I had been saved and set free. God had miraculously delivered me from alcohol. I had so much to be thankful for and I was concerned and upset about something He was not finished with yet.
We are all a work in progress. The apostles were our greatest examples, as well as our greatest cheerleaders and teachers. Listen to some of their testimonies and their words of encouragement:
Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:12-14)
So don’t lose a minute in building on what you’ve been given, complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, and generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing the others. With these qualities active and growing in your lives, no grass will grow under your feet, no day will pass without its reward as you mature in your experience of our Master Jesus. Without these qualities you can’t see what’s right before you, oblivious that your old sinful life has been wiped off the books. (2 Peter 1:5-9, The Message Bible)
And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you. (Philippians 1:6, AMPC)
Don’t let the enemy beat you up over areas in your life that God is not finished with yet. You are a new creature in Christ Jesus. Just thank God you are not what you were. You have come a long way with His help, and you are growing and maturing every day, so just remind the enemy that you belong to Jesus and He will finish the work that He started in you.
We are all a work in progress!!!
