I thank my God every time I remember you…. being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. ~Philippians 1:3,6 (NIV)
God has begun a good work in you and me. He has called us to be His children and filled us with His Holy Spirit who carries His wisdom and His power. We have been endowed to accomplish great things for the kingdom of God during our time on this earth. Even though sometimes it looks like things are completely backwards and messed up, God uses every single detail to fulfill His purposes and plan for us. Take Tamar for instance, in Genesis 38 the bible teaches of a woman named Tamar who became the wife of Judah’s son Er. Er died shortly after the wedding leaving Tamar childless. The custom of that day was for Er’s brother to marry Tamar and carry on Er’s heritage, but Er’s brother Onan didn’t like that idea and although he did marry Tamar, he wouldn’t let her have a baby to carry on his brother’s lineage. Then Onan died. Judah had another son, but Tamar would have to wait because he was too young for her to marry. After a while she decided to take matters into her own hands, so she posed as a prostitute and covered her face and solicited Judah himself. After that she became pregnant and is now listed in the ancestry of Jesus.
What a story! It just goes to show there is a little craziness in every family. But God used it all and turned it into something amazing and a woman one would think would be named an outcast finds herself a matriarch of a holy family. Even Judah said she was more faithful to carrying on his family line than he was. God looked past Tamar’s actions and saw her heart. He does the same for you and me. We can’t mess up beyond restoration. He loved us first, remember? When we were a complete mess. Our attitudes and behaviors have no bearing on God’s great love towards us. They may have consequences, but that doesn’t mean God isn’t loving us through those consequences. He tells us in Lamentations 3:22-23 “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (NIV) God isn’t looking for someone to beat up; He is looking for someone to build up. He will turn all our messes into miracles if we go to Him. He knew us before we were born, and He is ready to restore us every time we falter. Be sure of yourself in Christ. You have everything you will ever need, and you are capable of being everything you need to be. You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. He who began a good work in you and me and those we love has promised that He will finish it. We should never fail to remind ourselves that we have been given a victorious, overcoming faith, the kind of faith that conquers the world. We have been set apart from fear and doubt and been made free to trust in our heavenly Father because of the finished work of Jesus Christ. Our right relationship with God is not dependent upon ourselves, it is maintained by our Lord and Savior who holds all things together by His great power!
Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; ~Jeremiah 1:5 (NIV)
Who do you thank God for every time you remember them? It’s a great habit to create!
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