God Will Finish What He Started In Your Life

Do you ever feel like God isn’t interested in your life?

You still believe he is real, still think he is good, but you sense little of his activity in your life. So instead of continuing to seek him in prayer, you pull back.

I’ve been there.

But yesterday, I had a quiet reminder of God’s faithfulness.

My wife and family are in Las Vegas for a short getaway (It’s for the sun, I promise). One of our little habits is to try new churches wherever we travel, so our kids can experience different settings. This time, we made a point of stopping at a church Vance Pitman founded called Hope Church.

Just before going, I was reading Watchman Nee’s book, The Normal Christian Life, in our hotel room. In it, Nee writes,

I come to God on the basis of the finished work of the Lord Jesus. I approach God through His merit alone, and never on the basis of my attainment; never, for example, on the ground that I have been extra kind or patient today, or that I have done something for the Lord this morning. I have to come by way of the Blood every time.[1]

Despite its prevalence in Scripture, many Christian churches tend to steer away from “blood language,” but when I arrived at Hope Church, this was the theme of the first few songs. Not by our effort, but only through Christ’s blood.

This idea was echoed in the sermon as the speaker emphasized that we should not approach God on the basis of our goodness, but on the basis of who he is.

Stepping out of the service into the warm Las Vegas sun, I was reminded that, despite some travel, despite a new location, and despite being in a church where no one knew our name, God was still faithful to speak.

A Faithful God

If you've ever questioned God's faithfulness, you're far from alone, and this topic is a major theme of Paul’s letter to the Church of Philippi.  

The main theme of Philippians is joyful perseverance in Christ, regardless of circumstances. Writing from prison, Paul emphasizes that true joy is not rooted in comfort, success, or freedom, but in partnership in the gospel and union with Christ.

At its core, Philippians teaches that a life centered on Christ produces joy, resilience, and purpose, even in suffering.

Paul starts this letter with these encouraging words in verses 3-5, stating: “I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you, always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.”

He then adds this powerful statement, which has become the theme of many Christians since, in Philippians 1:6: “I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

Paul uses a perfect participle to show this is a settled, ongoing conviction, not a passing feeling. Paul has been persuaded and remains persuaded because his confidence rests on God’s character. Why can he be confident? Because God started the work. Moisés Silva writes,

Theologians who speak of salvation as being God’s from beginning to end are not using mere rhetoric, for this is precisely Paul’s conception as he addresses the Philippians regarding their share in the gospel.[2]

And the same God who started it can be counted on to complete it.

God Will Be Faithful to You

Reflecting on this passage, David Garland writes, “The opposite of joy is not gloom but despair, the incapacity to trust in any new and good future.”^[3]

Perhaps that’s where you’re at today.

Sometimes life is hard, it’s confusing, and downright terrifying. There is economic uncertainty, health concerns, and yes…war. Amid all this tumult, it’s easy to lose sight of the good work God is doing in us—the work of shaping us into the image of Jesus.

After sharing how Philippians 1:6 was the first verse he ever memorized, Pastor Kent Hughes made this statement: “As I reflect on my fifty plus years in Christ it is indeed God who has kept me. It is not my grip on God that has made the difference, but his grip on me.”^[4]

That last line is especially powerful.

If you’ve grown up in an environment that stressed the importance of good works, you might have a default setting that always links God's faithfulness with your performance. You're always a bit on edge, trying to keep him happy with you, trying to earn his approval, so that he will bless your life and treat you favorably.

But maybe in all your striving (some of it good), you need this reminder that God’s faithfulness is anchored in his character and not your goodness.

Is this a license to live anyway you please? Romans 6:1 would beg to differ, but it is a reminder to stop placing so much hope in yourself. Instead, trust your good Father this week.

I don't know the work that he started in you. Maybe it was a specific calling, a unique message of hope for your family, and a promise that seems far from being fulfilled. But I do know what God expects you to do. He expects you to trust in his faithfulness and wait patiently on him. Do your part, but never play a role only God was intended to play.

[1] Watchman Nee, The Normal Christian Life (New York: Christian Fellowship Publishers, 1961), 26.

[2] Moisés Silva, Philippians, 2nd ed., Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2005), 45.

^[3]David E. Garland, “Philippians,” in Ephesians–Philemon, vol. 12 of The Expositor’s Bible Commentary Revised Edition. eds. Tremper Longman III and David E. Garland; Accordance electronic ed. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006), 193.

^[4]R. Kent Hughes, Philippians: The Fellowship of the Gospel, Preaching the Word. Accordance electronic ed. (Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2007), 28.