Philippians 1:3-6 Amplified Bible
3 I thank my God in every remembrance of you, 4 always offering every prayer of mine with joy [and with specific requests] for all of you, 5 [thanking God] for your participation and partnership [both your comforting fellowship and gracious contributions] in [advancing] the good news [regarding salvation] from the first day [you heard it] until now. 6 I am convinced and confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will [continue to] perfect and complete it until the day of Christ Jesus [the time of His return].
Word of God for the Children of God
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
We are all a work in progress!
When reflecting on Philippians 1:6, I’m reminded of a song we used to sing in children’s church called “He’s still Working on Me.” It went like this-
“He’s still working on me to make me what I ought to be. It took Him just a week to create the moon and stars, the sun and the earth, and Jupiter and Mars. How loving and patient He must be, He’s still working on me.”
I love, appreciate, this song applies not just to children, but to us as parents.
It’s easy to get frustrated when kids or other adults make mistakes or when relationships feel strained.
This text reminds us that God’s work in us is not random or incomplete, yet He is always, continually, steadily shaping our hearts and lives one day at a time.
We must be constantly reminded of his unrelenting faithfulness.
The best way to do this is recall the places, moments God has met us in the past.
As families, friends, neighborhoods and communities, we can then confidently, faithfully, fully rely upon God’s past faithfulness to finish what He started.
We often want to reach the finish line without going through the process.
By submitting ourselves to go step by step through the process, the work He started will create a culture of grace, hope, patience and perseverance in our home, rather than one of frustration or division or despair. We are a ‘want it exactly now’ society, with much at our fingertips —the microwave generation.
Spiritual and emotional growth, however, is rarely instant; it happens over time.
This text solidly encourages us to celebrate progress, trust in His timing, and remain committed to showing grace towards one another.
Back to our original Kids Church song- I had moments where I was extremely frustrated with God, along with some unrealistic expectations on my own part.
I began to sing verse two of ‘He’s Still Working on Me’- it went like this-
“There really ought to be a sign upon my heart, don’t judge me yet, there’s an unfinished part. But I’ll be perfect just according to His plan, fashioned by the Master’s loving hands.”
Yikes! What do you say to that?
The only thing I knew to do was smile, and say, ‘You are so right, Father.’ And he’s still working on me today, too!
God is working on all of us.
Let our homes be places of grace.
Places where we are fully aware God is shaping us and making us more into His image through our life experiences and journeys, He has us on.
Next time you feel impatient with how fast He’s working and perfecting you, remember, He’s always, forever still working on you- and it’s going to be good!
Growth Is Guaranteed by God!
We hear a lot about lifetime guarantees in our world today.
Sometimes people are promised a guaranteed return on money they invest.
Gadgets for the kitchen are guaranteed to reduce the time needed for meal preparation, and golf training equipment is guaranteed to fix the dreaded slice.
But there are really very few guarantees in life.
As Benjamin Franklin put it, “In this world nothing can be said to be certain except death and taxes.”
Thankfully, there is more we can add to that short list.
Jesus promised, “If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit” (John 15:5).
That’s why when Paul prays for the Philippians, he asks God to fill them “with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ.” Paul knows that “he who began a good work in [them] will carry it on to completion.”
How reassuring these promises are, especially in times of discouragement. It may take a long time before fruit appears, and sometimes it may take painful experiences to produce it, but fruit will grow.
Here’s a rich blessing to conclude our devotion for today:
“May … the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24).
In the name of God, the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit ……
Praying …..
Beth
9 How can a young man keep his way pure?
By guarding it according to your word.
10 With my whole heart I seek you;
let me not wander from your commandments!
11 I have stored up your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you.
12 Blessed are you, O Lord;
teach me your statutes!
13 With my lips I declare
all the rules[c] of your mouth.
14 In the way of your testimonies I delight
as much as in all riches.
15 I will meditate on your precepts
and fix my eyes on your ways.
16 I will delight in your statutes;
I will not forget your word.
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
Loving God, Living God, Loving Hope, Living Hope, Loving Living Life His Way! "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." - Brother Lawrence (1605-1691), Practicing the Presence of God (1692). 