The "good work" begun in us is God's salvation by grace. Believers saved by grace undergo a lifelong journey of sanctification, thus the "perfection" that will occur until the day of Christ Jesus.
Every moment between the "beginning of the good work", and the "day of Christ Jesus", is an opportunity for growth, even those experiences which occur as a result of sinful disobedience if we confess, repent, and seek God's forgiveness in Jesus. (James 5:16, 1 John 1:9) Hopefully, such occurrences diminish over time, as we become more concerned with getting in step with God, and out of step with the world.
Proof of spiritual growth and development is possessing a nature consistent with that of our Savior. Is this our goal, or is it to simply "model" Him? Acquiring the nature of Jesus Christ requires us to seek Him with all our being, (Matthew 7:7, Luke 11:9) to identify with His suffering, and exaltation, and to subordinate our own needs and desires to a position far below our yearning for Him.
Is Jesus Christ our primary reason for existing? If so, we'll never wonder about our purpose, or anguish over burdensome tasks and responsibilities. (Philippians 4:13)
"I surrender all, I surrender all;
All to thee my precious Savior,
I surrender all."
Onward Christian soldiers!
Bob Benson
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October 23
Nothing of the Old Life!
If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new —2 Corinthians 5:17
Our Lord never tolerates our prejudices— He is directly opposed to them and puts them to death. We tend to think that God has some special interest in our particular prejudices, and are very sure that He will never deal with us as He has to deal with others. We even say to ourselves, "God has to deal with other people in a very strict way, but of course He knows that my prejudices are all right." But we must learn that God accepts nothing of the old life! Instead of being on the side of our prejudices, He is deliberately removing them from us. It is part of our moral education to see our prejudices put to death by His providence, and to watch how He does it. God pays no respect to anything we bring to Him. There is only one thing God wants of us, and that is our unconditional surrender.
When we are born again, the Holy Spirit begins to work His new creation in us, and there will come a time when there is nothing remaining of the old life. Our old gloomy outlook disappears, as does our old attitude toward things, and "all things are of God" ( 2 Corinthians 5:18 ). How are we going to get a life that has no lust, no self-interest, and is not sensitive to the ridicule of others? How will we have the type of love that "is kind . . . is not provoked, [and] thinks no evil"? ( 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 ). The only way is by allowing nothing of the old life to remain, and by having only simple, perfect trust in God—such a trust that we no longer want God’s blessings, but only want God Himself. Have we come to the point where God can withdraw His blessings from us without our trust in Him being affected? Once we truly see God at work, we will never be concerned again about the things that happen, because we are actually trusting in our Father in heaven, whom the world cannot see.
Amen!
"If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me." Matthew 16:24
