God Will Complete His Work in Us (1)

Let no one in whom grace has begun be discouraged.
God will go on with his grace. When he has begun a good work, he will finish it to the day of the Lord (Phil. 1:6). Though grace is little at first, it will not stay there. How it grows we do not know, but in the end, it will be glorious indeed. Until grace has grown it is little distinguished from other things, just as there is little difference between weeds and herbs before they have grown. Grace is little at first, as a grain of mustard seed (Matt. 13:31).
Some Christians of a weaker sort want to be in Canaan just as soon as they are out of Egypt, and I cannot blame them. But they are dissatisfied. As soon as they have grace in them they want out, of covetousness, to advance immediately. 'Oh,' they say 'that I had more knowledge and more victory!’ These desires are good; for God does not put desires into the hearts of his children in vain. But they must be content to be led from glory to glory, from one degree of grace to another. Christ himself grew more in favour with God and man. As that little stone grew to a mountain (Dan. 2:35), so we must be content to grow from grace to grace. Progress is gradual in the new creature. We cannot immediately be in Canaan. God will lead us through the wilderness, through temptations and crosses, before we come to heaven. Many who see themselves far short of other, stronger Christians think they have no grace at all.
So, though they are short of many that are before them, let those who are growing not be discouraged with their little beginnings. It is God's way in this world to bring his children by little and little, through many stations. It is one part of a Christian's meekness to be subject to God's wisdom in this respect, and not to complain that they are not as perfect as they would like to be or as they shall be.

Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Richard Sibbes 'Refreshment for the Soul.'
Glorious Freedom, pp. 150-51 [163-64]
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