Men and women jogging.
BY RICK WARREN
“God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished.” (Philippians 1:6a NLT)
The Bible tells us that God always finishes what he starts: “God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished” (Philippians 1:6a NLT). It doesn’t say, “God might finish it.” It doesn’t say, “God hopes to finish it.” It says God will finish it. What does that mean?
It means if you have really given your life to Jesus Christ, if you’ve opened yourself up to God and said, “Christ, be number one in my life,” you are going to make it to Heaven. There’s no doubt about it. Case closed. Done deal. You are going to make it across the finish line, because it doesn’t depend upon your performance; it depends upon God’s sustaining grace. The only question is how you finish the race. You know as well as I do that some people finish a race poorly while other people finish a race well.
I don’t want you to just get into Heaven. I don’t want you to just get across the finish line. I want to help you finish the race of life well. I want you to enjoy life, the abundant life, to figure out what God made you for and then do it.
How can you be sure you’re going to finish the race of life? Because of God’s sustaining grace. God doesn’t want to just save you. He wants to sustain you through life. He wants you to make it.
What is sustaining grace?
Sustaining grace is the power to keep on going when you feel like giving up. It’s the power to do the right thing when you don’t feel like doing the right thing.
There are many pitfalls in the marathon race of life. But regardless of what you go through, no matter what you face this year, you can count on God’s sustaining grace.
“My purpose in writing is to encourage you and assure you that what you are experiencing is truly part of God’s grace for you. Stand firm in this grace” (1 Peter 5:12b).
Talk It Over
-Why do we so often try to “just make it” through the week when God wants us to experience an abundant life?
-How have you seen God’s sustaining grace help you endure a trial in your life?
-In what situation do you need God’s help to stand firm? Have you asked God to help sustain you?
