The Turtle

He who began a good work in you, will be faithful to complete it. – Philippians 1:6

Have you ever been in “one step forward, two steps back” mode?

This summer, I set out to learn how to mountain bike.  I was actually making great progress there for a bit, getting fitter and more confident on the trails.  I thought I pretty much had it down… until I “turtled” on a trail in Crested Butte last week.

You might not know what “turtle” means.  I certainly didn’t, until my husband explained it to me as I lay crumpled on the ground under my bike.  I had been riding downhill and needed to stop before a sharp turn.  As I tried to unclip my biking shoe from the pedal, it wouldn’t budge.  In the fraction of a second I had left to remain upright, I frantically twisted it this way and that.  But it stayed stuck, and gravity took over.  I hit the turn, the wheels went out from under me, and I landed on my back (with my feet still in the pedals).  Imagine the ugliest turtle possible. I’m sure it looks a lot cuter than I did.

Since the crash and the, I think, cracked rib, I haven’t been able to go near the bike, and all my progress has been wiped out.  Each day I’m losing ground on my goal and getting more out of shape.  

How often do we feel exactly like this in our faith?

We take steps forward by reading God’s Word faithfully for a week.  Then, we become busy, hitting the ground running in the morning and forgetting to crack open our Bible for a month.  Or, soon after we pray to God and commit to cut all gossip out of our conversations, we find ourselves out to dinner with friends, gossiping like there’s no tomorrow.  We wake up the next day with a guilt hang-over.

Thankfully, God knows we’re on a journey with Him and not all of our steps are wise, good, or beneficial.  That’s why He promises us that “He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it” (Phil. 1:6).  God did not say that YOU began the good work or YOU are faithful to complete it.  Instead He says HE did and HE will.

This promise reminds us of important truths to hold onto while we’re reaching out to know God more in a crazy busy, fast-paced culture.  

• The good work God planned for all people began the moment Jesus died on the cross.  Do you remember what time Jesus breathed His last breath?  Yes, 3pm!  What an incredible reason to say, “Thank You!”

• The good work in you started the exact moment you believed Jesus was indeed your Savior.  Jesus then placed His Spirit in you. What a gift to be thankful for.

• The Holy Spirit in you will be faithful no matter how faith-filled you are today or tomorrow.  Thankfully, God’s power through His Spirit never gives up on us and continues to help us to become more like Jesus over time. 

• The work of the Holy Spirit in you is on-going and won’t be complete until you see Jesus face to face.  We can rejoice that in the end, we will be able to look back and see progress.

Yes, He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it!  Let’s trust in God who is faithful.  Let’s give thanks to His Spirit, alive in us to complete all the good works He has planned.  

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