Phil 1:3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4
In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your
partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of
this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until
the day of Christ Jesus. NIV
This often
quoted passage, is one of the most encouraging pieces of scripture I can think
of. The Apostle Paul begins a personal letter to the church at Philippi, which
had been established shortly after Paul visited the city on his second
missionary journey. It is evident by verses 12-14 that he was a prisoner at the
time he wrote the letter.
What you
see in verse 5 is that the Philippians had partnered with Paul in ministry. How
had they done that? One way was by sending Ephaphroditus to minister personally
to him. Another way was by sending Paul financial gifts, to make his imprisonment
a little more comfortable (Ph 4:14-19). They had done this on at least two
other occasions.
This is a result
of the good work that Jesus had begun in the Philippians. As you read through
all of chapter one, you can see that the practical application of God’s
spiritual work in the believers at Philippi, had stimulated great affection
from Paul. Note in verses 3 and 4 how Paul prays for this group of committed
believers in Christ.
When God
begins a good work in your heart, it should also be demonstrated through practical
application. In verse 9, Paul says that he prays that their love would abound
more and more. That means that it must have already been abounding! When Christ
comes into our hearts, the first change that we should see is that our love for
Jesus is demonstrated in love for other believers (Jn 13:35).
This kind
of love (agapee- love without
conditions or expectation of anything in return) is a love that only Christ can
give. It is visible proof of one’s relationship with God. This love must be the
motivation for any good works. Without it, Paul says our actions gain nothing
(1Cor 13:1-3).
Here is the
best news of all. Look back at verse 6. Who was it that began this good work in
these people? It is God. When did it begin? It began on the day that they
received Jesus as their Lord and Savior, the day of their salvation. How long
will it continue? It will continue until the “day of of Christ Jesus.” That
means until He returns for His church or until your personal day of meeting Him
face to face comes.
Remember,
it is He who begins the work in you and He is the one who “carries it on to
completion.” That means that no matter what is going on in your life, He is
working. When you feel discouraged, beaten up by the world, He is working. When
you are excited about life, He is working. When you can’t understand what is
going on around you, He is working. He
is always working to complete the work of love that He began in you and He will
finish the job! Don’t ever let anyone, including the enemy of your soul,
the father of lies, convince you otherwise. Be confident (convinced by
argument), just as the Apostle Paul was, that this is the good work that God will do in your life (Ph 2:13). Give Him thanks and
praise for His glorious works!
God Bless
You
Coach
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