Letters #9

Aug 9, 2020 • David Staff • Philippians

Christians love Philippians chapter 1, verse 6 for good reasons. They love it because it reminds them that God has started a good work in their lives; that following Christ is not merely their own doing. They love it because there seems to be a promise that they will finish strong when Jesus finally appears. God is the major player. God began something with them and God will be faithful to finish what He started.

Do you like this verse? And if someone were to ask you, “What has God has started in your life that you’re hoping He will finish?” What would you say? You might say:

• Well, He made me a new creation and made me His child and put me in His family. God made me His child; God gave me my citizenship in the country of heaven. Someday, I’ll live in His presence and reside in that country. That’s what Philippians 1:6 means to me!
• Some of you might also say, “Well, I know God gave me my spouse…my husband and my wife. God started our marriage; He made us ONE when we walked down that aisle. Our marriage hasn’t always been easy, but we are confident that God started it and God will also finish it. That’s what Philippians 1:6 means to us!”
• Still others might say, “I know God gave me my children. God created our family…and
though there have been bumps along the way, we’re confident that the family God started and the kids He gave us will also finish well. That’s what Philippians 1:6 means to us!”

This verse was originally written by the Apostle Paul to a bunch of new Christians in a new church, in the city of Philippi. It’s one of a number of life-coaching letters he would write to churches and to individuals from imprisonment in Rome. With this group, Paul states right at the beginning that he was confident about their future. God had begun something important with them and in them. But it is also true that Paul was very aware that a spiritual virus was infecting their fellowship and imperiling their future. His letter to them reveals the symptoms:

This important church, this lampstand of the Gospel was under attack by an enemy out to divide and conquer. Yet Paul declares his confidence. So what would it take? To protect and grow what God had started?