On to Completion
Under Construction Until the Day of Christ
SCRIPTURE:
Philippians 1:6 CSB - I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
OBSERVATION:
In Philippians chapter 1, Paul reminds us of an essential truth in our Christian walk: completion—God finishes what He starts.
Have you ever started a project with great enthusiasm, only to get frustrated, bored, or too busy to see it through? I can think of many examples. One in particular is learning to play the banjo. After a month of trying, I lost interest because I wasn’t progressing—and partly because I didn’t make (or have) the time to practice.
Isn’t that how many of us feel about our walk with Christ? We don’t see changes fast enough, so we either give up or try to “complete ourselves,” especially if we lean toward perfectionism or OCD (or CDO—for those who need it alphabetized).
But Paul encourages us with three important points in this verse:
Confidence - Our confidence should be in Christ—not in ourselves. We can be confident that the good work God began in us will be completed.
Completion - The work will not remain unfinished. God doesn’t walk away from what He starts. Completion comes through Him, and He completes what He starts.
Christ - This confidence in completion is in Christ alone. We will be completed—not by our own striving—but when we see Him face to face.
Philippians 1:6 CSB - I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
OBSERVATION:
In Philippians chapter 1, Paul reminds us of an essential truth in our Christian walk: completion—God finishes what He starts.
Have you ever started a project with great enthusiasm, only to get frustrated, bored, or too busy to see it through? I can think of many examples. One in particular is learning to play the banjo. After a month of trying, I lost interest because I wasn’t progressing—and partly because I didn’t make (or have) the time to practice.
Isn’t that how many of us feel about our walk with Christ? We don’t see changes fast enough, so we either give up or try to “complete ourselves,” especially if we lean toward perfectionism or OCD (or CDO—for those who need it alphabetized).
But Paul encourages us with three important points in this verse:
- We can have confidence that the work will be completed
- The completion is promised.
- Christ is the source of the confidence and completion.
Confidence - Our confidence should be in Christ—not in ourselves. We can be confident that the good work God began in us will be completed.
Completion - The work will not remain unfinished. God doesn’t walk away from what He starts. Completion comes through Him, and He completes what He starts.
Christ - This confidence in completion is in Christ alone. We will be completed—not by our own striving—but when we see Him face to face.
Where is there an instance of God’s beginning any work and leaving it incomplete? Show me for once a world abandoned and thrown aside half formed; show me a universe cast off from the Great Potter’s wheel, with the design in outline, the clay half hardened, and the form unshapely from incompleteness. – Charles Spurgeon
APPLICATION:
Though we may struggle with confidence—or wonder whether we’ll ever “get there”—we can hold on to the promise that God is not finished with us yet.
Until then, we are under construction.
Much like the never-ending roadwork and the signs, our lives may feel messy and incomplete. But God is not just putting up signs—He is working and will one day finish us.
PRAYER:
Jesus, thank You for the promises in Your word that You will complete the good work in me. You are perfecting me and making me more like You. Though I know I’ll never reach perfection this side of heaven, I can look forward to the day when I see You face to face—and I’ll be made complete. Help me have confidence that You complete what You start. When I see the construction and the signs in my life, help me be patient and confident that You are working—and that You finish what You start.
Though we may struggle with confidence—or wonder whether we’ll ever “get there”—we can hold on to the promise that God is not finished with us yet.
Until then, we are under construction.
Much like the never-ending roadwork and the signs, our lives may feel messy and incomplete. But God is not just putting up signs—He is working and will one day finish us.
PRAYER:
Jesus, thank You for the promises in Your word that You will complete the good work in me. You are perfecting me and making me more like You. Though I know I’ll never reach perfection this side of heaven, I can look forward to the day when I see You face to face—and I’ll be made complete. Help me have confidence that You complete what You start. When I see the construction and the signs in my life, help me be patient and confident that You are working—and that You finish what You start.
God has never abandoned a work He started— and He's not about to start with you.
Posted in 11 - Philippians
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