Growing in the Gospel: A 5-Day DevotionalSample

Being & Becoming

Yesterday, we explored the ongoing reality of sin in our hearts—the consequences of living in a fallen world. We acknowledged that these “weeds” shouldn’t surprise us or leave us hopeless. But if despair is a wrong reaction, so is apathy.

In the passage we looked at yesterday (Philippians 3), Paul pivots from what he is to what he’s becoming. He trusts that Christ gave him a new heart and a perfect record with God:

“Let us hold true to what we have attained. . . . Our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself” (Phil. 3:16-21).

We have to remind ourselves of this too. Because of Christ, it’s as if we’ve never sinned and always obeyed. In God’s eyes, it’s as if we delighted to serve our tiny neighbors through the night, or spoke life-giving words to toddlers rolling down the grocery aisle, or remained self-controlled when big emotions brought tears and tension with our teenager.

Paul is confident he’s in process towards becoming the perfect man he is in Christ. It’s his trust in God’s work that helps him obey right now. We’re not perfect today, but we’re moving towards something splendid. Like Paul, we can forget our previous sin and focus on what we’re supposed to be doing—watering the buds of fruit through the Word, prayer, local church engagement, and fellowship. We can press on knowing God will continue the work he began in the garden.

The blossoms and weeds in our hearts point to the same thing: the grace of God at work within us. Only God brings life from death. Only he makes good what was once evil. The work amidst the weeds will one day produce perfect gardens overflowing with the fruit of the Spirit. Beauty and goodness will spill out of us. One day, we’ll be what God intended for us to be—his best. And because of that, we can trust that we’re getting better.