The Work Begun in You

I try to keep a healthy perspective, don’t you? As of now, I’ve not faced a major, sudden, traumatic tragedy in my life, for which I’m grateful. But I’ve had a hard series of recent losses, and I’ve adjusted more slowly than expected. I stepped away from my life’s work as a senior pastor to care for my wife until she passed away. Then one of my dearest friends died prematurely, and to make matters worse, I haven’t been able to shake prolonged COVID fatigue.

Sometimes not being able to keep up a feeling of godly optimism can make me wonder, why doesn’t it come more easily? After all, I’ve been practicing for many decades. One morning while trying to rally my spirits, I decided to study the Old Testament book of Ezra and I found this verse, “So this Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundations of the house of God in Jerusalem. From that day to the present, it has been under construction but is not yet finished” (Ezra 5:16). In capital letters, I wrote in the margin, “That’s me!” I’m still under construction, but not yet finished.

Paul opens his letter to the Philippians with the same exuberant emphasis, “I thank my God every time I remember you. 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” (verses 3–6). That work will continue until we stand before Christ in the perfection of eternity.

Paul’s opening prayer for the church in Philippi is also for us. It’s actually one long sentence in the Greek and continues through verse 8. As he sometimes did, Paul became so excited he didn’t stop for punctuation or pauses. And in this wonderful run-on sentence, he offers us insight into the power of thankfulness, prayerfulness, and cheerfulness as day by day we continue to become more Christlike.

Action

Do you ever feel discouraged by your character imperfections? How can Paul’s confidence that you are a work in progress affect your view of yourself?