Philippians 1:1-8: a reflection

1Paul and Timothy, servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and servants: 2Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3I thank my God whenever I remember you, 4always in every request of mine on behalf of you all, making my requests with joy, 5for your partnership in furtherance of the Good News from the first day until now; 6being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. 7It is even right for me to think this way on behalf of all of you, because I have you in my heart, because both in my bonds and in the defense and confirmation of the Good News, you all are partakers with me of grace. 8For God is my witness, how I long after all of you in the tender mercies of Christ Jesus.

Writing to the Philippians he loves, Paul overflows with thanksgiving and affection: I thank my God whenever I remember you, always making my requests with joy. And at the heart of his thanksgiving is a confidence he wants them to share: I am confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. Paul's assurance for them rests not on their own strength but on God's faithfulness to finish what he started.

Notice where Paul places his confidence. Not in the Philippians' ability to hold on, not in their consistency or performance, but in God: he who began the good work will complete it. The Christian life is God's work from start to finish; he who began it in us is committed to carrying it through to the end. Our progress rests on his faithfulness, not merely our own.

That is a deep comfort when we are discouraged about our own growth. We look at our slow progress, our repeated failures, our fragile faith, and wonder whether we will make it, whether the work will ever be finished. Paul's answer is to look away from ourselves to God: he who began a good work in you will complete it. The one who started the work in you is faithful, and he will finish it. When you are discouraged about your spiritual progress, rest not on your own strength but on his faithfulness. He began the good work in you, and he will bring it to completion. Trust the one who finishes what he starts.

Lord, Paul was confident that you who began a good work in the Philippians would complete it until the day of Christ, resting not on their strength but on your faithfulness. When I am discouraged about my own growth, my slow progress, my repeated failures, my fragile faith, help me look away from myself to you. You began the good work in me, and you are faithful to finish it. Let my confidence rest not on my own consistency but on your faithful commitment to complete what you have started. Carry your work in me through to the end, and help me trust the one who finishes what he begins.