Philippians 1:6

New International Version (NIV)

Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

For meditation

The greatest joy we have in our Christian walk is the assurance of our salvation (Jn. 10:27-30). However, the enemy wants to steal that joy from us by his profession of conditional salvation. But that’s what makes grace so amazing (Rm. 5:20; Eph. 2:8-9). For, we cannot legislate out of fear of abuse of grace. The One who gives grace is able to separate the wheat from the tares (Matt. 13:24-30).

1. So, are you not glad that God Himself initiated your salvation? Do you think you would have made heaven if you or any other human had initiated it?
2. Don’t you rejoice that before the creation of time, God chose you in Christ and predestined you for adoption into His family on the basis of sonship (Eph. 1:4-5)?
3. Is it not heartwarming to know that “when the set time had fully come”, God brought His Son to actualize His plan to redeem and adopt you (Gal. 4:4)? Did He fail to call you to Himself (Matt. 11:28)? Did He fail to justify you when you responded to His call (Rom. 5:1)?
4. Does it not give you confidence that He who has done all these in you, will complete the process of sanctification until your “final salvation that is ready to be revealed” dawns on you in glory (1 Pt. 1:5)?
5. Is this not the confidence Paul expresses in today’s scripture for your encouragement and assurance (Phil. 1:6)? What then is the basis of our confidence? Is it not God’s immutable nature and faithfulness to us and His word (Nu. 23:19; 1 Tim. 2:11-13)?

I pray you will not lose your confidence as current events worsen and false teachers abound in their wicked and selfish schemes to deceive God’s people.

Rather: Rejoice with Paul that God is able to keep and to carry you safely into glory when Christ returns for His Church. May you be thankful and give Him praise in every area of your life.

Shalom