Under Construction

Read Philippians 1:1-30

6. I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.
7. So it is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a special place in my heart. You share with me the special favor of God, both in my imprisonment and in defending and confirming the truth of the Good News.
8. God knows how much I love you and long for you with the tender compassion of Christ Jesus.
9. I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding.
10. For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blame-less lives until the day of Christ’s return.
11. May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6-11

It would be nice to renovate a room or an entire home with the click of a button or a wave of a magic wand. Imagine the time you would save, the hassle and mess you would avoid, and all the money you would have left over because it did not cost you a penny. Despite these great advantages, there is one downside to all this convenience. You would not enjoy the satisfaction that comes from achieving a difficult task through hard labor and perseverance.

The Christian life is like a home-renovation project. It is a long, tiring, and sometimes painful process. There are no buttons to push to become a mature and perfect Christian instantly. But Paul reminds the Philippians that God will see his children through this process to completion and perfection. As you read, be encouraged that God is working in you, conforming you to the likeness of his own Son (see Romans 8:29).

God begins a process of changing believers as soon as he saves them. Through the Holy Spirit, God works on each Christian’s character bit by bit. This process takes a lifetime. Signs of progress come and go, but the work is never finished. Only when Christ returns will all believers be made perfect. Meanwhile, God’s work in us continues (Philippians 1:6).

If you belong to Christ, do not let life’s setbacks and failures discourage you. God has promised to finish the good work he has begun in you, and in time, he will do just that. In the meantime, keep your relationship with him vital by studying his Word and spending time in prayer. Also, encourage other Christians who may be struggling with failure by reminding them of God’s promise.