Pbpginfwmy
You are probably wondering what the above chapter title means! Each letter is an acronym representing an important fact about the Christian life.
PLEASE BE PATIENT; GOD IS NOT FINISHED WITH ME YET.
This chapter will help you remember that being a Christian doesn’t mean you’re perfect or won’t make mistakes. It means that you are forgiven of sin and aim to live like Christ, not according to your old sinful ways. So do your best to reject the devil’s condemnation if you stumble or make a mistake.
The Bible teaches that when a Christian sins, we should quickly turn to the Father in repentance. God promises,
“But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.”
(1 John 1:9, NLT)
His will is always that we get back on our feet and continue walking with Him! Condemnation is Satan’s favorite tool. Never let other people or the devil heap condemnation and guilt in a moment of failure. God is not like that. He is love (see 1 John 4:16). God loves you and will correct you, but He will not condemn you:
“So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.”
(Romans 8:1, NLT)
There is a vast difference between condemnation—what the devil causes—and conviction—what the Holy Spirit brings. Condemnation comes to bring despair and hopelessness and to separate us from God:
“For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death.”
(2 Corinthians 7:10, NLT)
Conviction, on the other hand, brings us to repentance so that we might be restored to God. This same verse states,
“For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death.”
(2 Corinthians 7:10, NLT)
When you repent (turn away) from your sins and ask Jesus to forgive you, that’s exactly what He immediately does. He forgives every sin you’ve committed, regardless of how awful or evil they might have been. In God’s eyes, it is as if these sins never happened. The Bible says:
“He has removed our sins as far away from us as the east is from the west.”
(Psalm 103:12, The Living Bible, Paraphrased)
“Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.”
(Colossians 1:22, NLT)
God promises that even when we stumble and fall, He is still working to make us like Jesus. Philippians says,
“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”
(Philippians 1:6, NLT)
God is love. He won’t kick you off the train (abort your daily journey of faith) or throw you off His eternal ship of salvation (expel you from His kingdom) when you make a mistake. He has already provided a way for you to come back to Him and be restored to a full, joyful relationship. So if you stumble and fall, trust these promises and confess your sin to the Lord. Thank Him for forgiving you of your sin and cleansing you from all unrighteousness.
You are not alone in your walk of faith. Father God is fully committed to getting you all the way to your destination. He has delivered you from the treacherous “sea of sin” and will lead you daily by His Holy Spirit in Jesus Christ. He will never leave or forsake you—because you belong to Him.
So I say again, congratulations! Your new journey and an abundant new life in Christ have just begun. As you believe in God and embrace His process, you’ll fully mature for His glory. Be patient—God isn’t finished with you yet.
“We know that God, who raised the Lord Jesus, will also raise us with Jesus and present us to himself together with you. All of this is for your benefit. And as God’s grace reaches more and more people, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory. That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!”
(2 Corinthians 4:14–17, NLT)
The following spiritual exercise will help you to keep the right focus. Along with the other truths you’ve learned in this booklet, it will also equip you to share your faith in Christ. As you cooperate with God in your daily process, He’ll use you to share His love with others so that they might rescue them from the dark sea of sin and death as you were!
• Read John 3:16–21. What does this tell you about God’s love for you and all humanity? What does it reveal about those who immediately come to Him after making a mistake?
• Read Romans 8:18–39. Consider how this relates to “walking your talk” and God’s daily process of maturing your faith. How does this help you to believe in God and see any difficulties you may now be facing in a different light?
• Read Revelation 21:1–8. Do you believe and receive this eternal promise as a son or daughter of God? Do you know people who will face eternal judgment unless they receive Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord? In what ways does this promise challenge you to share your faith with others?
With these things in mind, let’s go to the throne of God together in a final prayer.
Dear Lord Jesus, we thank you for your love and the free gift of salvation. Thank you for saving us, bringing us into your eternal kingdom, and leading us all the days of our lives. Use us, Lord, to reach out to others with the same love and grace we have received from you. Jesus, we thank you that your yoke is easy, your burden is light, and your strength is perfect in our weaknesses. Teach us to abide in your Word daily so we will be fruitful for Your kingdom. Jesus, let our lights shine so that people will see our transformed lives and give glory to the Father. We praise you for your love, mercy, and faithfulness and for working in us both to will and to do according to your good pleasure. We love you, Lord. Amen!