God Will Complete His Work in Us (1)
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.—Phil. 1:6
Let no one in whom grace has begun be discouraged.
God will go on with his grace. When he has begun a good work, he will finish it to the day of the Lord (Phil. 1:6). Though grace is little at first, it will not stay there. How it grows we do not know, but in the end, it will be glorious indeed. Until grace has grown it is little distinguished from other things, just as there is little difference between weeds and herbs before they have grown. Grace is little at first, as a grain of mustard seed (Matt. 13:31).
Some Christians of a weaker sort want to be in Canaan just as soon as they are out of Egypt, and I cannot blame them. But they are dissatisfied. As soon as they have grace in them they want out, of covetousness, to advance immediately. 'Oh,' they say 'that I had more knowledge and more victory!’ These desires are good; for God does not put desires into the hearts of his children in vain. But they must be content to be led from glory to glory, from one degree of grace to another. Christ himself grew more in favour with God and man. As that little stone grew to a mountain (Dan. 2:35), so we must be content to grow from grace to grace. Progress is gradual in the new creature. We cannot immediately be in Canaan. God will lead us through the wilderness, through temptations and crosses, before we come to heaven. Many who see themselves far short of other, stronger Christians think they have no grace at all.
So, though they are short of many that are before them, let those who are growing not be discouraged with their little beginnings. It is God's way in this world to bring his children by little and little, through many stations. It is one part of a Christian's meekness to be subject to God's wisdom in this respect, and not to complain that they are not as perfect as they would like to be or as they shall be.
God will go on with his grace. When he has begun a good work, he will finish it to the day of the Lord (Phil. 1:6). Though grace is little at first, it will not stay there. How it grows we do not know, but in the end, it will be glorious indeed. Until grace has grown it is little distinguished from other things, just as there is little difference between weeds and herbs before they have grown. Grace is little at first, as a grain of mustard seed (Matt. 13:31).
Some Christians of a weaker sort want to be in Canaan just as soon as they are out of Egypt, and I cannot blame them. But they are dissatisfied. As soon as they have grace in them they want out, of covetousness, to advance immediately. 'Oh,' they say 'that I had more knowledge and more victory!’ These desires are good; for God does not put desires into the hearts of his children in vain. But they must be content to be led from glory to glory, from one degree of grace to another. Christ himself grew more in favour with God and man. As that little stone grew to a mountain (Dan. 2:35), so we must be content to grow from grace to grace. Progress is gradual in the new creature. We cannot immediately be in Canaan. God will lead us through the wilderness, through temptations and crosses, before we come to heaven. Many who see themselves far short of other, stronger Christians think they have no grace at all.
So, though they are short of many that are before them, let those who are growing not be discouraged with their little beginnings. It is God's way in this world to bring his children by little and little, through many stations. It is one part of a Christian's meekness to be subject to God's wisdom in this respect, and not to complain that they are not as perfect as they would like to be or as they shall be.
Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Richard Sibbes 'Refreshment for the Soul.'
Glorious Freedom, pp. 150-51 [163-64]
Banner of Truth has granted permission for the use of this material.
Glorious Freedom, pp. 150-51 [163-64]
Banner of Truth has granted permission for the use of this material.
Categories
Recent
'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — December 24
December 24th, 2024
'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — December 23
December 23rd, 2024
'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — December 22
December 22nd, 2024
'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — December 21
December 21st, 2024
'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — December 20
December 20th, 2024
2024
January
One Thing (1)One Thing (2)Our Thoughts and Desires Reveal Who We AreThe Christian's Desire for God's House (1)The Christian's Desire for God's House (2)What the Soul Was Made ForGod Makes the Heart TenderMaintaining a Tender Heart (1)Maintaining a Tender Heart (2)Maintaining a Tender Heart (3)Maintaining a Tender Heart (4)Test to See if Your Heart is TenderHow to Recover a Tender HeartBenefits of a Tender HeartKings Must Humble Themselves Before GodHow to Humble Ourselves (1)How to Humble Ourselves (2)How to Humble Ourselves (3)Proneness to PrideHumilityTrue versus False Humility (1)True versus False Humility (2)True versus False Humility (3)Both Outward Devotion and Inward AffectionWeeping for the ChurchWeeping and Rejoicing Mixed (1)Weeping and Rejoicing Mixed (2)God Hears Our Prayers--His PartWhen It Seems God Doesn't HearThe Privilege of PrayerGod Hears Our Prayers--Our Part
February
Death Is a Gathering (1)Death Is a Gathering (2)The Righteous Preserve their NationGod's Righteous JudgmentThe Importance of Knowing God Loves Me (1)The Importance of Knowing God Loves Me (2)Abundance Is Not an Accurate Sign of God's LoveRun to GodChristian UnityChrist In Us (1)Christ In Us (2)Christ In Us (3)Christ In Us (4)Christ In Us (5)Christ the Servant: the MediatorThe Bruised Reed and the Smoking Flax (1)The Bruised Reed and the Smoking Flax (2)The Bruised Reed and the Smoking Flax (3)The Bruised Reed and the Smoking Flax (4)God Knows Our FrameLittle at First (1)Little at First (2)Sometimes Tender, Sometimes Tough (1)Sometimes Tender, Sometimes Tough (2)Avoiding Unnecessary RulesThe Weaker BrotherExtend Grace to One AnotherThe Covenant of GraceThe Light of God Compared to Fire (1)
March
The Light of God Compared to Fire (2)The Light of God Compared to Fire (3)Temptation (1)Temptation (2)The Source of DiscouragementsResponding to Christ's KindnessVictory in Spiritual BattlesHis Power Not OursCourage Until the End (1)Courage Until the End (2)Our Hearts—God's TempleSin in God's PeopleSigns of God's Impending Judgment (1)Signs of God's Impending Judgment (2)Signs of God's Impending Judgment (3)Preventing God's Judgment on Our Nation (1)Preventing God's Judgment on Our Nation (2)The Ugliness of Sin (1)The Ugliness of Sin (2)Far but NearChrist's Dying Words of ComfortThe Wrong of Excessive SorrowSteps to Bring Comfort to our Hearts (1)Steps to Bring Comfort to our Hearts (2)Steps to Bring Comfort to our Hearts (3)When We Feel Our Faith Is Weak (1)When We Feel Our Faith Is Weak (2)When We Feel Our Faith Is Weak (3)Christ and the Holy SpiritChrist Is the Heart and Power of the Scriptures (1)Christ Is the Heart and Power of the Scriptures (2)
No Comments