Philippians 1:6 - Jesus Can Do It! Will You Let Him?
Philippians 1:6 - Jesus Can Do It! Will You Let Him?
Philippians 1:6 (KJV) Being confident of this very thing, that
he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the
day of Jesus Christ:
Philippians 1:6 (CWR) There's no doubt in my mind that God who
began a good work in you will continue to do so until Christ comes
back to take you home.
Philippians 1:6 (TLB) And I am sure that God who began the good
work within you will keep right on helping you grow in his grace
until his task within you is finally finished on that day when Jesus
Christ returns.
COMMENTARY
The Lord is a perfect workman. He completes every work to which
He sets His hand, if only the human material permits Him to do so.
Furthermore, the product of such workmanship will be perfect. And He does not
weary in well-doing. [SDA Bible Commentary]
The God who began a good work in us continues it throughout our
lifetime and will finish it when we meet him face to face. God's work
'for' us began when Christ died on the cross in our place. His work
'in' us began when we first believed. Now the Holy Spirit lives in
us, enabling us to be more like Christ every day. Paul is describing
the process of Christian growth and maturity that began when we
accepted Jesus and continues until Christ returns. [Life Application SB]
What God begins, He completes. This should bring comfort to
each one who knows Jesus Christ personally. He began the "good work"
in you when the Holy Spirit moved upon your mind to draw you to
Jesus; He softened your heart and ordered circumstances for your
conversion. In the very same way that He orchestrated your new birth, He
also now directs your new life. Oh, don't misunderstand; you have a
part to play. It is a responsive one. He calls, you follow; He
directs, you obey. And so the "good work" in you is being carried on!
Are you following? Are you obeying? Today is a great day to press
on in both these areas! [In His Time; Walk With Wisdom]
It would be nice to renovate a room or an entire home with
the click of a button or a wave of a magic wand. Imagine the time
you would save, the hassle and mess you would avoid, and all the
money you would have left over because it did not cost you a penny.
Despite these great advantages, there is one downside to all this
convenience.You would not enjoy the satisfaction that comes from achieving a
difficult task through hard labor and perseverance.
The Christian life is like a home-renovation project. It is a
long, tiring, and sometimes painful process. There are no buttons to
push to become a mature and perfect Christian instantly. But Paul
reminds the Philippians that God will see his children through this
process to completion and perfection. As you read, be encouraged that
God is working in you, conforming you to the likeness of his own Son
(see Romans 8:29).
God begins a process of changing believers as soon as he
saves them. Through the Holy Spirit, God works on each Christian's
character bit by bit. This process takes a lifetime. Signs of progress
come and go, but the work is never finished. Only when Christ returns
will all believers be made perfect. Meanwhile, God's work in us
continues (Philippians 1:6).
If you belong to Christ, do not let life's setbacks and
failures discourage you. God has promised to finish the good work he has
begun in you, and in time, he will do just that. In the meantime, keep
your relationship with him vital by studying his Word and spending
time in prayer. Also, encourage other Christians who may be
struggling with failure by reminding them of God's promise. [The One Year
Through the Bible Devotional by Dave Veerman]
ILLUSTRATION & LIVING TESTIMONY
Joni Eareckson Tada says that in the early days of her
paralysis, she was "desperate for a promise - any promise - that would
bring hope into my dark and bleak world. Would I ever smile again?
Would life have any meaning? Could anything good come from useless
hands and feet?"
Someone pointed out Philippians 1:6, which told her she
should be confident that the good work God had begun in her would be
carried on to completion. She quoted the verse over and over as if it
were a lifeline. She prayed repeatedly, "knocking and knocking at the
door of his tenderness and mercy until he opened it."
Tada found peace through her prayers, and her depression
lifted. Prayer was what made all the difference. "It was as though God
pressed the fast-forward button on my walk with him," she says, "and I
began growing, as they say, by leaps and bounds. Out of nowhere, I
began thirsting for his Word. Surprisingly, I was hungering after his
righteousness. I believe a special bond, a forged closeness, was custom-made
between the Lord and me during those times of pleading in prayer."
The Scripture so helpful to Tada was Paul's message to "all
of God's holy people in Philippi" (Philippians 1:1, NLT). Paul was
assuring them that when God births new life in a person, he is faithful
to finish what he started. Paul was therefore able to pray for them
with joy at their faith and their future.
Joni Eareckson Tada's changed and miraculous life came about
through her desperate yet simple prayers that believed God would be
faithful, despite her paralysis. In our own most desperate experiences we
can utter the same simple, earnest pleading that God will open the
doors to his mercy and grace.
Father, you have been at work in my life. Please continue to
carry to completion everything you have planned. Help me to hunger
after your righteousness and to faithfully pray for others. [The One
Year Book of Encouragement by Harold Myra]
Joni Eareckson Tada's Website:
http://www.joniandfriends.org/jonis-corner/jonis-bio/
CLOSING THOUGHTS
Do you sometimes feel as though you aren't making progress in
your spiritual life? When God starts a project, he completes it! As
with the Philippians, God will help you grow in grace until he has
completed his work in your life. When you are discouraged, remember that
God won't give up on you. He promises to finish the work he has
begun. When you feel incomplete, unfinished, or distressed by your
shortcomings, remember God's promise and provision. Don't let your present
condition rob you of the joy of knowing Christ or keep you from growing
closer to him. [Life Application SB]
There are those who have known the pardoning love of Christ and
who really desire to be children of God, yet they realize that their
character is imperfect, their life faulty, and they are ready to doubt
whether their hearts have been renewed by the Holy Spirit. To such I
would say, Do not draw back in despair. We shall often have to bow
down and weep at the feet of Jesus because of our shortcomings and
mistakes, but we are not to be discouraged. Even if we are overcome by the
enemy, we are not cast off, not forsaken and rejected of God. No;
Christ is at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for
us. Said the beloved John, "These things write I unto you, that ye
sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father,
Jesus Christ the righteous." 1 John 2:1. And do not forget the words
of Christ, "The Father Himself loveth you." John 16:27. He desires
to restore you to Himself, to see His own purity and holiness
reflected in you. And if you will but yield yourself to Him, He that hath
begun a good work in you will carry it forward to the day of Jesus
Christ. Pray more fervently; believe more fully. As we come to distrust
our own power, let us trust the power of our Redeemer, and we shall
praise Him who is the health of our countenance. SC64-5
LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY:
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2006/20061019-0728.html
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2001/20010215-0000.html
UPCOMING LIVE BIBLE STUDY SERIES BY PASTOR DOUG BATCHELOR
Heroes of Faith - Stories of Salvation:
http://www.theheroesoffaith.com/
UPCOMING LIVE BIBLE STUDY SERIES BY PASTOR JOHN BRADSHAW
Revelation Today - The Mysteries Revealed:
https://www.revelationtoday.com/
