October 26, 2019
CARRY ON TO COMPLETION
Rev. Ed Hoke
Volunteer, Illinois
“Be confident 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
There are so many different ways to describe people. So many different general categories we can fit ourselves into. For example, some people are what I call starters. They love to start things. They are entrepreneurial. They can see things others can’t and are willing to take risks. But once the thing is up and going, they are ready to move on and start something else.
Then there are other people who are good at maintaining and completing projects. They are not crazy about starting things. They may not even be good at it. But, give them an ongoing project or enterprise and they shine. They may be able to take it to places the starter could not have or would have been unwilling. They are, many times, willing to be patient and see things through to the end.
This scripture speaks of God starting good works in the church in Philippi. I’m sure they were spreading the Gospel, preaching, teaching and doing the work of God in their part of the world. I’m sure they were starting all kinds of good things that were going to take time. Obviously, because the work of the Gospel is still not complete. It won’t be until Christ comes again.
Where do you fit into all of this? Are you a starter? Are you a maintainer or a person who sees it through to the end? John 4:37 says, “Thus the saying, ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true.” Notice Philippians 1:6 makes clear who the real actor here is, God. God is “he who began a good work in you…” and God is the one who “will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” We do our part, we move our feet while we pray, we work side by side with the Africans to bring clean water to those in need, but don’t ever forget that it is really God who is doing the work. Don’t be concerned when you don’t get to see the end result of something you started. If it is of God, God will see to it that it is completed. We just do our part and thank God we have the chance.
Prayer: Oh God, thank You for the opportunity to sow and the opportunity to reap. Thank You for making a place that we can be a part of what You are doing in Your creation. Amen.
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