Philippians 1:6 "I always pray... confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."
In six days God completed His creation. On the seventh day He rested, for "the heavens and the earth were completed." In Christians God has begun another work -- that of creating them anew in Christ. Will He finish also this work?
We have often witnessed an infant Baptism. Through the Sacrament God created faith in the child and received it into the kingdom of His dear Son. He began His good work. Will faith survive during the lifetime lying ahead for this child?
The same question occurs as we look at ourselves. Much of our Christianity seems to be at loose ends. Our faith is plagued by doubts. Our life is far from perfect, for the struggle with sin continues as long as we live. We may wonder: Will God uphold us until the end?
Saint Paul states it as his conviction that God will sustain us and bring us to perfection in heaven. He will not leave our faith an unfinished symphony; He will bring it to a grand climax. On the target date -- the day of Jesus Christ -- He will have put the final touches on each Christian. That will be a day when we give all glory to God -- to the Father who created us, to the Son who redeemed us, and to the Holy Spirit who kept us in the faith.
PRAYER: God of all grace, keep us by Your power through faith in Jesus Christ unto salvation. Amen.
(Taken from "Words of Promise," copyright 1996, Concordia Publishing House (out of print). For information on other devotional materials, call 1-800-325-3040.)
Today's Bible Readings: Exodus 9-11 Matthew 25:31-46
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