SUNDAY 6th
NIV (v6) – ‘. . . 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.’
ESV (v6) – ‘And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.’
God had purpose for the Church at Philippi, Paul and his companions setting sail from Troas was not by chance, Paul meeting Lydia at the riverside was not by chance, Paul speaking deliverance into the life of the fortune teller was not by chance, even the anger of the woman’s owners was not by chance because God had a plan and a part of that plan involved Paul and Silas being thrown into prison so that the jailor would be saved and that was not by chance but because of God’s eternal purpose. And God’s plan did not end abruptly once Paul left, God had something for this newly formed Church to do and here in this verse Paul calls it ‘a good work’ and Paul saw this in the Philippians and he was confident that what God had started he would bring to completion. God never leaves a job half done, he never does anything in half measures, he always completes what he has started, and the wonder is that he choses to use us, men and women who have been touched and saved by his grace to be involved in the work, it doesn’t mean it will always be easy, but if it is his work we are involved with then we do it with and through his strength and according to that which is his eternal counsel and will.
And the moment we were saved, God began a good work in us and has called us to good works, we need to discern that which is his good and perfect will for our lives (Romans 12:1-2) and then allow him to complete it, we need to surrender wholeheartedly to him. We can learn from Paul and Silas that God sometimes uses difficult circumstances to bring his plans about, of themselves they would have never chosen prison, but when it happened they used it for Gods glory, the prison experience was as much a part of Gods ‘good work’ as the rejoicing over seeing Lydia and her household being baptised. (we see this in the life of Joseph as well)
What is God’s ‘good work’ that is taking place in your life, we need to learn to trust him that whether the day is good or in our eyes bad, God will complete that which he has started as we remain pliable to his will.
I will close the devotion with some Scriptures.
Romans 12:1-2 ‘I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.’
Psalm 57:2 ‘I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfils his purpose for me.’
Psalm 138:8 ‘The LORD will fulfil his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.’
1 Thessalonians 1:2-3 ‘We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labour of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.’