The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my mind and heart in Philippians 1:4-6,
"In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 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."
The "he" in the above verse refers to God. Paul thanks God for the partnership he has with these Philippian believers, verse 3. It is God who began "a good work" in them and it is God who will carry this work to a completion as these believers look forward to "the day of Christ Jesus."
This "good work" is the good work God does in the lives of all believers. I can't help but be reminded of all God has done for me, his good works."
The first thing that comes to my mind is the decision God made from the beginning of time that he would make possible a way for people to return to him following their rebellion and rejection of him. His choice, his election, was that he wants all who want him. In his compassion for us, he has determined that all who will embrace him in faith will enter in to his family. As we read John 1:12, "Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God..."
God is a God of justice, "I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight..." Jeremiah 9:24. In order to make a way possible for us to spend an eternity with him, the sins we have committed would have to be paid for. Since the penalty for sin is eternal death, which would have precluded us from his family, he sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to pay that penalty for us, by dying on that miserable cross. Another, most important "good work" on our behalf! The payment Jesus Christ made for our sins is credited to our account with God when we place our trust in him.
God also decided to provide his Holy Spirit to come and dwell within us as we remain here on earth, pulled by the world's collective sin nature, as well as our own inherent proclivity to sin. The Holy Spirit works within us to guide us into truth, helping us understand the things of God as we spend time in the Scriptures. He also provides us a countering influence to keep us from straying, and when we do, convicting our hearts and minds, such that we drawn back to him, "So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh." Galatians 5:16-17. The Spirit of God also begins to build God's own character and nature within us. Things like, "love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." Galatians 5:22-23. The Holy Spirit also provides and enables us with talents and abilities to serve one another as we remain in this life, "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms." 1 Peter 4:10.
We are likewise sealed for our redemption, kept in Jesus Christ until we enter in to our eternal reward in heaven with him, "He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." 1 Corinthians 1:8. We will be kept blameless! I am reminded of what our reception will be like in heaven, "To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy..."!
This is just a sample of all that might be considered as we think of what God has done for us, what this "good work" is that he has begun in our lives. What would you add to this list?
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
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