By Rick Warren
“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 1:6 NIV)
Philippians 1:6 says, “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” (NIV). What God starts, he finishes. Where God guides, he provides. And where God leads, he meets our needs. But he’s going to test you first, because there is no testimony without a test.
The question, then, is: Are you willing to trust God completely?
God tells us to remember to remember. Often in the Bible, God had people create a memorial so they’d never forget what he taught them. The idea of creating a stone of remembrance comes from the book of Joshua. Right after the Israelites crossed the Jordan River and were going into the Promised Land, God had them create a memorial to remember what he had done for them. Each person picked a stoned and used it to build a memorial. In the future, when their children asked what the stones meant, the Israelites could explain that they were a reminder of God’s faithfulness to the children of Israel.
If you were to build a memorial, what would you want to remember? What would it stand for? What do you want to make sure you don’t forget? It’s not the things that matter — your job, your house, your salary, or your accomplishments. You are God’s legacy, and your legacy is made up of the moments that made a difference for God’s Kingdom, the relationships that had eternal significance, and the ways you worshipped the Savior.
I invite you to pray a prayer of remembrance right now. Say these words back to God in your heart: “Father, I remember right now the love of Jesus. Thank you for the miracles you’ve worked in my life. God, help me to remember your grace and to be gracious. I remember your generosity toward me. I ask you for the strength to be generous toward others. I trust that you will be with me, and I trust that you will finish what you have started in me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
Talk About It
- What are the miracles God has done in your life?
- What are some meaningful ways that you and your family can remember together what God has done for you?
Rick Warren is the founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., one of America’s largest and most influential churches. Rick is author of the New York Times bestseller “The Purpose Driven Life.” His book, “The Purpose Driven Church,” was named one of the 100 Christian books that changed the 20th century. He is also the founder of Pastors.com, a global Internet community for pastors.
This devotional ©2012 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
