1 00:00:02,759 --> 00:00:06,720 Speaker 1: Life Audio. For more resources to help you in your 2 00:00:06,800 --> 00:00:12,760 Speaker 1: walk with Christ, please visit us at Bible Studyheadquarters dot com. 3 00:00:13,000 --> 00:00:17,640 Speaker 1: You're listening to Daily devotions with Pastor John. I'm John Stangey, 4 00:00:18,120 --> 00:00:22,840 Speaker 1: and today's devotion is inspired by Philippians Chapter one, verse six, 5 00:00:23,040 --> 00:00:27,200 Speaker 1: which says, and I am sure of this that he 6 00:00:27,360 --> 00:00:30,000 Speaker 1: who began a good work in you will bring it 7 00:00:30,040 --> 00:00:36,000 Speaker 1: to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. When we 8 00:00:36,040 --> 00:00:39,200 Speaker 1: look around our homes, we can find plenty of examples 9 00:00:39,240 --> 00:00:44,480 Speaker 1: of unfinished projects, repairs that aren't complete, furniture that needs 10 00:00:44,520 --> 00:00:47,480 Speaker 1: to be dusted, books that we started but never got 11 00:00:47,520 --> 00:00:51,280 Speaker 1: around to finishing. We have a bad habit of leaving 12 00:00:51,360 --> 00:00:57,120 Speaker 1: things undone or incomplete. Thankfully, our Lord operates differently than 13 00:00:57,160 --> 00:01:01,680 Speaker 1: we sometimes do. When he begins a product, he finishes it. 14 00:01:03,120 --> 00:01:05,800 Speaker 1: At the moment we came to faith in Jesus Christ, 15 00:01:06,160 --> 00:01:10,600 Speaker 1: a divinely empowered work began in our lives. We were 16 00:01:10,760 --> 00:01:15,280 Speaker 1: immediately in dwelt by the Holy Spirit. We were equipped 17 00:01:15,319 --> 00:01:20,039 Speaker 1: and gifted to serve as Christ's ambassadors. We were rescued 18 00:01:20,040 --> 00:01:23,720 Speaker 1: from the penalty of our sin. We were saved from 19 00:01:23,920 --> 00:01:29,399 Speaker 1: death and condemnation. God is also continuing a process within 20 00:01:29,480 --> 00:01:35,200 Speaker 1: us called sanctification. He is helping us to grow in holiness. 21 00:01:35,880 --> 00:01:39,240 Speaker 1: He's training us to value and reflect the heart of 22 00:01:39,319 --> 00:01:43,679 Speaker 1: Christ in all we do. He is bringing our faith 23 00:01:43,720 --> 00:01:47,360 Speaker 1: from a place of immaturity to a place of maturity, 24 00:01:48,000 --> 00:01:50,200 Speaker 1: and he won't quit the work he's doing in us 25 00:01:50,520 --> 00:01:55,600 Speaker 1: until it's accomplished. When Christ returns for us, we will 26 00:01:55,640 --> 00:01:58,360 Speaker 1: be given a new body, and we will live in 27 00:01:58,480 --> 00:02:04,760 Speaker 1: His presence forever in complete perfection. We will no longer 28 00:02:04,800 --> 00:02:08,440 Speaker 1: struggle with sin or sorrow because our old way of 29 00:02:08,480 --> 00:02:12,560 Speaker 1: living will be done away with The work God began 30 00:02:12,680 --> 00:02:21,280 Speaker 1: in us will be brought to perfect completion. Let's pray. Lord, 31 00:02:21,320 --> 00:02:23,480 Speaker 1: we thank you for your word, and we thank you 32 00:02:23,520 --> 00:02:25,160 Speaker 1: for the privilege that it is to look at this 33 00:02:25,280 --> 00:02:28,480 Speaker 1: brief portion of scripture from the Book of Philippians today. 34 00:02:29,160 --> 00:02:31,360 Speaker 1: And Lord, we're grateful for the things that you reveal 35 00:02:31,480 --> 00:02:34,720 Speaker 1: to us in this passage. We're grateful that, first of all, 36 00:02:34,760 --> 00:02:38,640 Speaker 1: you've chosen to do a work in our lives. We know, Lord, 37 00:02:38,680 --> 00:02:41,080 Speaker 1: that you could have left us alone. You could have 38 00:02:41,200 --> 00:02:44,200 Speaker 1: avoided us, You could have considered us too much of 39 00:02:44,240 --> 00:02:49,200 Speaker 1: a burden to bless, but you chose to do the opposite. 40 00:02:49,280 --> 00:02:52,040 Speaker 1: You offer us new life through faith in your son 41 00:02:52,200 --> 00:02:56,800 Speaker 1: Jesus Christ. And as that new life begins, you begin 42 00:02:57,080 --> 00:03:00,320 Speaker 1: a work within us that this portion of Scripture tells 43 00:03:00,440 --> 00:03:05,040 Speaker 1: us you will complete. We will not enter eternity as 44 00:03:05,240 --> 00:03:10,400 Speaker 1: incomplete people. You complete us in your son Jesus Christ, 45 00:03:11,080 --> 00:03:15,520 Speaker 1: and the work you're doing will not go unfinished. Lord, 46 00:03:15,520 --> 00:03:17,600 Speaker 1: we know that right now, for those who trust in 47 00:03:17,639 --> 00:03:22,120 Speaker 1: your son, you are accomplishing the work of sanctification. You're 48 00:03:22,160 --> 00:03:24,799 Speaker 1: helping our faith to grow. You're helping us to grow 49 00:03:24,840 --> 00:03:28,680 Speaker 1: in holiness. You're helping us to reflect your heart more 50 00:03:28,800 --> 00:03:31,320 Speaker 1: and more each and every day. You're helping us to 51 00:03:31,440 --> 00:03:36,480 Speaker 1: see with your eyes and your perspective. And we're grateful 52 00:03:36,520 --> 00:03:39,760 Speaker 1: for these changes that you're causing to take place in 53 00:03:39,800 --> 00:03:44,200 Speaker 1: our lives because they matter. You're making our lives better. 54 00:03:44,920 --> 00:03:48,480 Speaker 1: You're helping us to experience things in a godly way, 55 00:03:49,560 --> 00:03:54,640 Speaker 1: and we're grateful for your patience with us in the process. So, Lord, 56 00:03:54,680 --> 00:03:56,800 Speaker 1: thank you for the work that you're doing in our lives. 57 00:03:57,040 --> 00:03:59,840 Speaker 1: We pray that we would trust you to accomplish great 58 00:04:00,040 --> 00:04:03,480 Speaker 1: and mighty things, and that we would be content in 59 00:04:03,680 --> 00:04:08,240 Speaker 1: what you're facilitating around us and within us. Again, we 60 00:04:08,320 --> 00:04:11,040 Speaker 1: thank you for this reminder from your word, and we 61 00:04:11,160 --> 00:04:15,040 Speaker 1: pray this all in Jesus' name. Amen.