Summer Fruit Devotion: Goodness Day 5

Complete Good

“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 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. It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” Philippians 1:3-11

Goodness is an ongoing process. You and I won’t ever be perfectly good in this life, but through sanctification God will complete the good work he began in you when he saved you. I’m so glad you are here, reading these devotions. Every time you choose to read the word, pray, and seek God in your life you are growing in the fruit of righteousness. Ultimately this will grow your faith and glorify God. You are good because God began a good work in you and, like Paul, I am sure he will complete it. Hold tight to this promise on the days when you stumble and fall and fail. Your good shepherd loves you and the more you hear his voice and follow him the less you will stray. The more you see how good, excellent, pure and blameless Christ is the more you will want to walk alongside him, holding tight to his hand so that when you slip you know who’s got ahold of you.

Journal time. How has your week been going? Good? Bad? Ugly? I had some ugly moments yesterday and was so refreshed to read these verses. This weekend try to memorize that core verse, Philippians 1:6 “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.”

Pray with me today. Heavenly Father, we are so grateful that you begin and finish the work of goodness in us. Sometimes our motives and actions go sideways but with Christ you always lead us back. Holy Spirit give us the knowledge and discernment we need to approve what is excellent so we can be pure and blameless for the day of Christ. Let all your love and fruits of righteousness abound in us so that we glorify and praise you in our lives. In the name of your Son, Jesus, who is coming soon we pray, Amen.