And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.
Philippians 1:6 (NLT)
I’m always encouraged by this verse when I think about the plans God has for my life. God’s Word is clear that when we receive His gift of salvation through faith in Jesus, we begin a life-long journey of a personal relationship with Him. His Holy Spirit comes to live in us. As we grow in our knowledge of Him and surrender our lives to Him, He is doing a work of transforming us to be more like Jesus. He began that good work in us and He will continue it until He takes us to heaven. God’s Word is clear that God has a plan for each of our lives:
For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for prosperity and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11).
In this Christmas season, we are reminded to focus our attention on the birth of Jesus and the plan God has for Him. Jesus came to earth, born as a baby. He came to share the good news of God’s plan to save us from our sins. That plan required Jesus to die on the cross as the perfect sinless Lamb of God to pay the penalty for the sins of the whole world. Only those who receive that gift of salvation by faith will be forgiven and live with Him forever in heaven.
God’s work was not completed through the birth of Jesus. It wasn’t completed when He died on the cross and was resurrected three days later. It wasn’t completed when He ascended back to heaven and asked the Father to send the Holy Spirit to live in all who believe in Him. The part of God’s plan still to be fulfilled is when He will come back to reign forever as King of Kings and Lord of Lords! This was prophesied in Isaiah 45:23 and quoted in Philippians 2:10-11: at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
God is still at work drawing people to Himself for salvation through faith in Jesus for the forgiveness of sin. He gives us a choice to receive Jesus as our Savior or to reject His offer of salvation. For those who receive Him, we have the gift of His Holy Spirit living in us now, and the guarantee of spending eternity with Him.
I’m so thankful for the greatest gift that has ever been given – the gift of God’s unconditional love, the forgiveness of all my sins, His promise to be with me, and the promise that I will be with Him forever. I’m thankful that He is at work in my life drawing me closer to Himself and encouraging others in their walk with Him. Lord, help us to have hearts that are open to be more aware of Your presence and Your plan for our lives and be more willing to follow wherever You lead. Thank You that You promise to complete the good work You began in us.
PERSONAL REFLECTION
Set aside some time to remember the amazing gift of salvation that God has given us in His Son. Consider writing your prayer of gratitude.
Do you know the plans He has for your life? Ephesians 2:8-10 tells us “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
We can be asking God for His plan for our lives and then depend on His Holy Spirit in us to lead us and accomplish His plan.