Skip to main content

I am Certain of This

                 There are not many sure things in this world.  Invest your money and you could gain or lose.  Your favourite sports team may win or not.  Local weather says it is going to be sunny this weekend?  Better bring an umbrella just in case.  Most of life is defined by uncertainty.
                Therefore, it may come as a surprise that Paul says he knows a few facts that are unchanging:  “I am certain of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6). 
                Note the word “he” at the start of the verse.  Paul is certain that God is at work within that church and those Christians.  Occasionally, I hear someone say, “God will not do anything for us.  It is up to us to study, learn and be obedient”.  While I agree that God will not force anything on us, I completely disagree with the notion that he is doing nothing.  Never, in the recorded history of God and his people, are we told that God ever left his people on their own, so why would he start now?  Even more strange, the same people who say God does nothing, are quite eager to urge against the influence of Satan in the lives of God’s people.  If we believe Satan is at work in and around us, we better be certain that God is too!  (Hebrews 13:20-21)
                I also like the words “began” and “completion”, because they remind us that spiritual growth is a process.  Faith is less like a one-time inoculation and more like on-going dialysis. 
                Lastly, I like that God’s work is defined by the work “good”.  Ultimately, that good work is a reference to our eternal salvation.  However, do not discount the idea that God is working goodness into our lives right now.  Even our trials can be to our benefit (See Romans 5:1-5).
                In a world of uncertainty, Paul is certain that God is at work, constantly shaping his people into something good.  I am not sure what you are up against right now, but I hope that you find that certainty too.
                After all, being sure of what we hope for and confident about what we do not yet see is the very definition of faith! (Hebrews 11:1)

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Art of Noticing.... Seeing what we need to see and what we miss when we don't

 What we focus on in life matters. Here are some scriptural reminders that will help us see correctly.  https://youtu.be/Rn76tV0ZH8s    
Post a Comment
Read more

Consider This.... Which Way Are You Leaning?

   When Ben Patterson agreed to join three friends climbing Mount Lyell, the highest point in Yosemite National Park, he did not realize what he was signing up for.  Early in the day, it became clear that he was completely unprepared for the task.  In an effort to keep up with his more experienced friends, Ben took a shortcut.  It did not occur to him that there might be a reason the others had not selected this route, but he soon found out why.  Ben became stuck on the glacier.  He could not move up, down or sideways and one wrong move would send him sliding down a forty-five-degree slope to the valley floor miles below.   That is when one of his friends came to the rescue. His buddy leaned over the edge and carved some footholds in the ice.  He told Ben to step to the first foothold and immediately swing his other foot to the second, then his buddy would pull him to safety.  Lastly, his friend gave him one more piece of advice....
Post a Comment
Read more

Consider This: Press The Button!

  Consider This:  Press the Button! My favourite TV game show is Jeopardy.  I used to like it even more when my kids were younger, because I could easily beat them and look smart.  These days, after they have grown up and gone to university, it is much more difficult.  However, Jeopardy is still the only game show I will watch. In a book I read, a contestant who did very well on the show shared the secret to his success.  He said (and I am paraphrasing here), “You must press the button before you know the answer.  Everyone on Jeopardy is smart. Everyone knows the answer. The key to winning is to act.  You must jump in and press the button, assuming that your brain will catch up and supply the answer.  If you wait until you are sure, you will be too late!” Press the button! Too often, we hesitate, not because we do not know what to do, but because we do not want to do it.  Sometimes, we fail to act because we are not sure how the situatio...
Post a Comment
Read more