Philippians 1:6 (ESV) -- And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

Nothing is more frustrating than an unfinished project. We’ve done remodel work on the inside and outside of our home in the last few years. The work is often slow, but if progress is made it helps make the waiting endurable. But when a project stops and is left undone, it is discouraging. Sometimes it isn’t something we can control, but sometimes it is. Incomplete projects are sometimes a result of our own laziness or quickness to lose interest in things.

The good news of this passage today is that God never leaves us incomplete or abandoned. Paul writes in Philippians 1:6, “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”

This letter from Paul to the Philippian church is penned from a jail cell. He helped to plant this church years earlier. He is writing to them to encourage them and instruct them in the faith. This verse is very encouraging, not just to them, but to us. He says, “I am sure of this.” This is a projection of confidence. He is confident in what he is about to say. He has a certainty and assurance about it. What is he confident and sure about? That He (the LORD) who began a good work (at our salvation) will bring it to completion (will not leave us undone) at the day of Jesus Christ. He doesn’t begin a project on us that gets left incomplete. He doesn’t justify us from our sins, only to leave us the same as we were before. He is committed to bring the project of transforming us into the image of Christ to a completion. 

How does God do this? He does it through the reading of Scripture, prayer, connecting us with other believers, and trials and tribulations. All of these things work in conjunction with the Holy Spirit to bring sanctification and transformation to our lives. We may not always feel like we are changing. We can’t always see how the work is going. But Paul gives us this beautiful promise: He who started this work in us will bring it to completion. We can bank on that promise. God doesn’t leave projects undone.

Reflection & Journal: 
- What are some ways this promise in the text encourages us?
- How have you experienced growth and transformation in your walk with the Lord?
- What promise do we have in this text about our spiritual condition when we stand before God at the coming of Christ?

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