6) Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:Philippians 1:6 (KJV)
So many times, life sets us back. Besetting sins, the world, the flesh, and the devil all surround us daily and keep us from growing in Christ.
There are days when we are discouraged at a lack of progress in our Christian walk. Other days we give into things we are ashamed of. During these times we say things and think things like “not again” or “why did I act that way?”
Sadly, in a fallen world where we are still in the flesh, this is all a part of our Christian life. We wrestle daily against spiritual wickedness in high places. (Eph. 6:12 KJV)
Yet we can always come to Jesus for forgiveness. None of what life throws at us changes our standing with Him as His sheep and children. (Jn. 10:11 KJV and Jn. 1:12-13 KJV)
However, when we sin we feel like God has left us. When we are disappointed at not being as holy as we desire, or during times of crisis we become easily discouraged. Think of how many Psalms in which David wrote about this very topic.
Discouragement is a fate worse than any temporary lapse into sin or feelings of alienation from God. It re-frames our minds for the worse. We begin to think God has stopped working in us. Suddenly our entire orientation goes from heavenward to inward. We become like what Martin Luther was referring to when he referred to Man as “incurvatus in se” or “turned in on himself”.“God continues to work in our lives, even when it does not feel like it, even when everything else seems to drag us down into the mire of despair and discouragement.”
Thankfully we can remain confident! Paul tells us to be confident. It is no commonplace confidence either, it is specific confidence. We can be confident “of this very thing” that “he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ”. This is confidence in He who saved us, it is confidence in Jesus, and there is no greater confidence.
God continues to work in our lives, even when it does not feel like it, even when everything else seems to drag us down into the mire of despair and discouragement.
Notice, it refers to “he which hath begun a good work in you.” Reader, you placed your faith in Jesus and believed in Him to save you (the work He began in you). You confidently gave over your soul to the savior. Because God saved you from what you could not (your sins) can you not trust His many other glorious promises? Can you not trust that He will continue to be with you? That He will help you throughout the entirety of your life until you finally see Him face-to-face?
Remember what Jesus Himself told those who follow Him and who are His children, “lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” (Matt. 28:20 KJV)
Jesus is always “God with us.” We can be confident, just as we were when He first saved us, that He will continue to work in our lives. Be not discouraged, be confident! Amen!