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His Day

July 27, 2018 by Jan Blonk Leave a Comment

This is a devotional (January 3) from It’s All about Jesus, the book used for Jesus’ $100,000,000 birthday gift.

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

Philippians 1:6

Our initial salvation, the continuance of it, and its eternal perfection is wholly related to “he who began a good work in you.” While for each one of us, this growth process is different, there will be a final completion “at the day of Jesus Christ.” I love that phrase.

Right now, His day seems blurry. While in theory we may hold to the Biblical truth that salvation is all God’s work, many times we mix it with “man’s day.” We boast in ourselves, idolize other Christians, and attribute God’s gracious work to mere human beings.

There will come a day, though, that this will vanish. “The day of Jesus Christ” will consume everything that doesn’t exclaim: “Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!” (Ps. 115:1). We will then realize our proper place, having been utterly dependent on God’s “good work.”

All the pastors who believed that some of their congregation will come to them in heaven, thanking them for their faithful preaching, will know that it was only God who gave the growth. Neither the one who planted nor the one who watered was anything in God’s “good work.”

Instead of waiting till that day, let us now attribute all our right living to the One who is our righteousness? Apart from Jesus, we’ve never performed anything that was acceptable to the Father. He deserves all the glory and honor. Thankfully, His day will never end!

 

Jan

P.S. will you join Jesus’ $100,000,000 birthday gift? Can you even begin to imagine what can (and will!) be accomplished when Christians around the world unite for a collective birthday gift for Jesus with only $9.99? The sky would be the limit!

Filed Under: 50 Philippians Tagged With: It's All about Jesus

All Our Needs

November 25, 2016 by Jan Blonk Leave a Comment

How would you define your needs? Many times our definitions are different from God’s definitions. Consequently, we need to align our thoughts with His thoughts. Otherwise we may very well become sorely disappointed. Today’s verse is one of the most precious ones, especially in relation to everyday life with all its challenges and difficulties.

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:19

Illustrations are always helpful in order to understand Biblical truths. Jesus was a Master Illustrator. He explained Biblical realities with everyday examples, those that people could relate to. Let’s consider the following illustration.

     Image you were dirt poor and solely lived on the good and generosity of others. Someone pays your rent and utilities, while another pays for all your grocery items. Let’s assume that Jesus is the One who provides all your groceries.

     He goes to His Father’s supermarket, called All Your Necessities, and puts down ten trillion dollars. He states to His Father that if you mention His name at the cash register, you’ll receive the groceries for free. No doubt His deposit is more than sufficient.

     While most illustrations fall somewhat short in accuracy, this one does make the point. Jesus purchased every blessing and promise through His righteous life and sacrificial death, including the ones that are directly related to the Father’s care for us. He obtained them for His people. These blessings and promises are boundless; there are no limited quantities.

     Since Jesus purchased them for His people, the Father “will supply every need of yours.” He freely supplies them from “the unsearchable riches of Christ.” Since we’re “in Christ Jesus,” we’re the eternal beneficiaries. We’ll experience His riches throughout eternity, benefitting from what He has purchased for us. The good news is that these riches are applicable right now.

     There’s a definite distinction, though. It clearly states “every need of yours.” Many times we confuse what we want or think we need with what we truly need. God defines our needs as follows: “But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content” (1 Tim. 6:8). God hasn’t promised riches and wealth in this fallen world, but He has promised to supply “every need of yours” for Christ’s sake.

Jan Blonk
The Devotional Writer

Filed Under: 50 Philippians Tagged With: Book Launch, Philippians

In Christ Alone – Found in Him

October 19, 2016 by Jan Blonk Leave a Comment

The experience of God’s grace is only found “in Christ.” In order to understand His grace, we have to reject all our own morality and righteousness as the basis of our acceptance with God.

. . . and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith.

Philippians 3:9

When we stand on the shores of eternity, about to pass through its waters to the other side, there will only be one issue: am I in Christ? If not, a horrendous doom will befall us. If we’re “in him,” we’ll forever enjoy our infinite God with unimaginable bliss.

     This issue is obviously not only important when we approach the shores of eternity but also right now. Humanity can be divided in two groups: those who are and those who aren’t in Christ. That determines our relationship with God. We’re either fully accepted by the Father or fully rejected by Him.

     What does it mean to be in Christ? How can we be in Him? Those are vital questions. While we can approach them from different angles, all being Biblical, we want to highlight Paul’s mindset regarding this crucial matter. For Paul to be “found in him,” means a rejecting of all his own “righteousness.”

     If anyone could ever boast about his own righteousness, it was Paul: “If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eight day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.” Yet, he counted that all “as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ” (Phil. 3:4-6, 8).

     He rejected all his “morality” in order to receive Jesus’ righteousness. Embracing His righteousness by faith is part of being in Christ. Theologians refer to this as a foreign or imputed righteousness.

     It’s foreign in the sense that it’s not our own, but Christ’s. It’s imputed because God freely deposits it into our account when we believed in Him. The rejection of all our own righteousness is in sharp contrast to every other religion and sect. That’s why we’re saved by grace alone!

Jan Blonk
The Devotional Writer
www.devotionalwriter.com

P.S. Would you like to go deeper into God’s love? Click right here.

Filed Under: 50 Philippians Tagged With: Book Launch, Philippians

Our Fruitfulness and God’s Glory

March 8, 2016 by Jan Blonk 1 Comment

. . . filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Philippians 1:11

The Bible is interrelated. There’s a perfect harmony between all the books because it ultimately has author—God—and one goal—His glory. When we begin to see that, everything starts falling into place, having its proper part in God’s overarching message, especially expressed in the gospel.

     My primary understanding of the gospel and God’s goal is found in John: “I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). The essence of salvation is being grafted into Christ, being made a partaker of Him. That’s why John wrote: “Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life” (1 John 5:12). Eternal life is not a gift by itself, it’s Jesus! When we have received Him, we have eternal life.

     Not only is our salvation related to being in the Vine, but also our fruitfulness. In today’s verse Paul referred to “the fruit of righteousness.” That refers to any righteous thought, emotion, motive, word, and deed. Didn’t Jesus state: “Apart from me you can do nothing”? Does that not then refer to all righteousness? Jesus is not only our positional righteousness but also our practical righteousness. Righteousness flows from the Vine. Or as Paul stated: “filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ.”

     Since we cannot do anything apart from Christ and since the fruit of righteousness comes solely through Him, there’s only one ultimate end: “To the glory and praise of God.” He deserves all the honor and praise for our righteousness, both positional and practical.

     Therefore, both legalism and antinomianism are an attack on God’s glory. The first one is an attack because it seeks to produce righteousness by itself, apart from Christ. The second one is an attack because it rejects the necessity for Christ to shine forth through His branches, making them fruitful with righteousness, which is to God’s glory. In the end we’ll only be able to state: “Only in the LORD . . .  are righteousness and strength” (Isa. 45:24).

For more Christ-centered devotionals, click right here

If you’re blessed by this post, why not share with others!

Jan Blonk
The Devotionals Writer
Author of “An Unfathomable Gift!“

Filed Under: 50 Philippians, The Glory of Christ Tagged With: Philippians, the glory of christ

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