The Spirit Empowered Life – Day 133 – Galatians 3:2-4 – Responding To God’s Message – Growing As Disciples
Let me put this question to you: How did your new life begin? Was it by working your heads off to please God? Or was it by responding to God’s Message to you? Are you going to continue this craziness? For only crazy people would think they could complete by their own efforts what was begun by God. If you weren’t smart enough or strong enough to begin it, how do you suppose you could perfect it? Did you go through this whole painful learning process for nothing? It is not yet a total loss, but it certainly will be if you keep this up! Answer this question: Does the God who lavishly provides you with his own presence, his Holy Spirit, working things in your lives you could never do for yourselves, does he do these things because of your strenuous moral striving or because you trust him to do them in you? Galatians 3:2-5 (MSG)
In Your Presence
I know one thing. What’s that? I am the work of your hands. You began a good work in me on the day that I turned my life over to you. You drew me to yourself. You showed me your kindness and mercy and love. You helped me to turn away from my old life in the world. You forgave my sin. You cleansed my unrighteousness. You made me to be acceptable in your sight. You became my Savior and My Lord. You are my God and Father. I am your child. Yes, I have done all this for you. Yes, I am all this to you. Yes, I have begun a good work in you that will continue until the day you come to live forever with me.
Let’s talk about now. How is it that I am now doing a good work in you? How is it that I am now changing your heart, transforming your mind, and guiding your life? How is it that I am molding and shaping you and making you into the person that I have called you to become? Is my work in you being accomplished by your efforts? Certainly not. I cannot complete the work that you have begun in me. I cannot make myself into the person you want me to become. Do you have no role in the work I want to do in you, for you, and through you? I didn’t say that. I wouldn’t say that. What would you say? I would say that it is my role to draw near to you. I would say that it is my role to submit myself to you. In your presence, you are molding and shaping me into the person you want me to become. In your presence, you are doing your good work in, for and through me. Yes, in my presence I will do my good work in you, for you and through you. Will you keep on drawing near to me? Will you keep living in an intimate relationship with me? Yes, I will. That will be very good.
Heavenly Father, thank you for beginning your good work in me. You have been changing my heart, transforming my mind, and guiding my life. I will trust and allow you to continue to complete your good work in me. Change me. Mold me. Shape me. Amen
Key Question… How has God been doing His good work in you as you have drawn near to Him?
Living It Out… Trust that God will complete and make perfect the good work that He has begun in you.
Seeing It Happen… Have faith that God will complete and make perfect the good work He began in you.
Get Ready To Share… Share with another person or your small group how you are trusting God to complete the good work He began in you.
Prayer To Bless Others… May you allow God to complete the good work that He started in you.
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