Tuesday, May 1, 2018

"Relentless"

(a repeat from 2010)

"Relentless"
   
     
   There is no quit in God. He finishes everything He starts, and the end product is pristine perfection. He is relentless in His purpose to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ and to fulfill His eternal purpose in Him.

   "Then cometh the end, when He shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign, till He hath put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For He hath put all things under His feet. But when He saith, all things are put under Him, it is manifest that He is excepted, which did put all things under Him. And when all things shall be subdued unto Him, then shall the Son also Himself be subject unto Him that put all things under Him, that God may be all in all" (I Corinthians 15:24-28).

    A million devils could not thwart "then cometh the end" and the perfect fulfillment of God's eternal purposes. Our spiritual enemies, however, can tempt us to forget that we do not fight for victory, but rather from the victory of the cross, the empty tomb, and the occupied Heavenly throne. We fight also from the promise that "whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor anything taken from it" (Ecclesiastes 3:14). We therefore rest in the assurance that our Lord unceasingly works to "make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen" (Hebrews 13:21).

    To the degree we believe and submit ourselves to this truth will be the degree to which we rejoice in the journey to perfection on which we have embarked in Christ.  Our personal faithfulness is based on our confidence in God's faithfulness.  Much remembrance and affirmation of His incessant working to conform us to the image of Christ will result in growing response in us, and conformity to our Lord.  Indeed, the weary believer finds refreshing by remembering the truth that our dedication to God flows always from His dedication to us. He is relentless in His pursuit of our ultimate glorification, and of our devotion to Him and others. Increasing realization of this grace will cause us to join Him in His relentless pursuit, and to rejoice that "He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6).

"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds."
(Hebrews 12:2-3)
"And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it."
(I Thessalonians 5:23-24)

Weekly Memory Verse
    Therefore as by the offense of one, judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of One the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
(Romans 5:18)
     

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