CompleteInHim | Kristi's Morning Devotional

April 29, 2024April 29, 2024

There’s A Void

…without Him

My thoughts this morning focused on one thing – I found it in the first few verses of Genesis.

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. ²And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. ³And God said…” Genesis 1:1-3 KJV

No form – there was darkness and a void until God spoke. Those few words can describe everyone who is reading this. There’s a darkness and a void but God isn’t content to leave us that way. He desires to fill the void.

God spoke and there was light. God separated the light from the dark so we would have time to rest and time to flourish. He spoke and land separated from the waters; the earth teamed with life of every sort and the things God created He called good. When He created humanity, He called it very good.

He speaks and worlds change. He speaks and lives are transformed. It’s the power of God’s word that creates.

“For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater, ¹¹So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;
It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please,
And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:10-11 NKJV

John, the Apostle, called Jesus the Word. His very existence here on earth was the Word of God being accomplished. Our lives prosper because of Him.

“For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. ⁸But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:6-8 NKJV

We were without strength but God stepped in to fill the void with His love. When God speaks things change. Power and life replace the weakness.

“Have your roots planted deep in Christ. Grow in Him. Get your strength from Him. Let Him make you strong in the faith as you have been taught. Your life should be full of thanks to Him…⁹For Christ is not only God-like, He is God in human flesh. ¹⁰When you have Christ, you are complete. He is the head over all leaders and powers.” Colossians 2:7-10 NLV

“The church is Christ’s body. It is filled with him. He makes everything complete in every way.” Ephesians 1:23 ERV

Because of Christ the void is filled, and we are complete in Him.

August 26, 2023August 26, 2023

The Finisher

Several times over the last week I have drawn your attention to the same verses in Hebrews. Today I would like to share one more thought from them.

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ²looking 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 has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.” Hebrews 12:1-3 NKJV

I can still remember the street I was driving down in Scottsdale, AZ in 1984 when this verse came alive to me.

Kim and Koy were with me in the car as we were driving past a construction site. It was a new commercial building. We had been driving past it for weeks and each time we would remark on how much progress they had made. This time the crew was there removing the security fencing and the kids both said, “It’s finished”.

It sure looked complete except for a couple of things. I had the kids look at the architectural rendering on the sign. There were no sidewalks, trees, shrubs or signage on the building. Then I answered, “It’s not finished yet”.

As those words came from my lips, these verses came to my heart. “Jesus is the author and the FINISHER of our faith”. Not only has He written my story of faith, He is with me to see that the work is finished.

I hope that thought impacts you the way it did me!

“being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;” Philippians 1:6 NKJV

A baker isn’t finished with the wedding cake when it comes out of the oven. No, the cake still needs to be iced and decorated before it’s finished. The artist isn’t done with the masterpiece until he has signed his name to it. The building wasn’t complete until the sidewalks and flowers were in place.

And Christ’s work in us won’t be complete until we finish our life here and join Him in heaven.

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” II Timothy 4:7-8 NKJV

Don’t become discouraged or disheartened because your life seems like an unfinished work. Be patient. The finisher of our faith is still working in each of our lives – conforming us to His image.

“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. ³For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. ⁴So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.” James 1:2-4 NLT

We are all in a stage of development as we conform to the image of Christ.

August 7, 2022August 7, 2022

Which Box?

Do you have a tendency to compartmentalize your life?

Family, work, health, friends, finances, social activities. Everything has to be kept in its own little box, not touching or interfering with the others, like vegetables on a dinner plate, we don’t let them blend.

Many people do that with the Lord. It’s ok for Him to have their Sunday or days when times are tough, but they aren’t ready to allow Him to permeate each area of their everyday lives.

Yesterday’s blog dealt with opening our heart’s door and letting Jesus in. Welcoming Him in a warmer way than we do with family and friends. Today, we need to look at giving Him full access to every area of our lives.

I found an interesting assessment of the Lord in the book of I Kings. Benhadad, a foreign king, had attacked Ahab, king of Samaria. The Israelites had gone to aid in the fight. King Benhadad was defeated, his officers needed to find a reason for his defeat and this is what they told him.

“King Ben-Hadad’s officers said to him, ‘The gods of Israel are mountain gods. We fought in a mountain area, so the Israelites won. If we fight them on level ground, we will win.'” I Kings 20:23 ERV

God won’t be kept in a box. God won’t be limited. This was the Lord’s reply to their attempt to confine his involvement.

“A man of God came to the king of Israel with this message: ‘The Lord said, “The people of Aram said that I, the Lord, am a god of the mountains and not a god of the valleys. So I will let you defeat this great army. Then all of you will know that I am the Lord, wherever you are!’” I Kings 20:28 ERV

The same holds true in our lives.

The Lord wants to show that He is the Lord, wherever we are. God wants to be involved in every aspect of what we do. He has the knowledge, the plan and the power to bring us through in victory. He wants to be Lord over every area of our lives.

“Let the message about Christ completely fill your lives, while you use all your wisdom to teach and instruct each other. With thankful hearts, sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. ¹⁷Whatever you say or do should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, as you give thanks to God the Father because of him.” Colossians 3:16-17 CEV

Our lives should be completely filled with the message of Christ, letting Him have every area, holding nothing back. Then whatever we say or do will be done to honor Him.

We have all given the Lord limited access in our lives at one time or another. Isn’t it time to let Him have it all? No more putting Him in a box. Let the Lord bring the victory we need in every area.

“Then all of you will know that I am the Lord, wherever you are!”