Today we’ll continue with some of your favorites (or the passages you have questions about). Email (andy@stm-umc.org) or message me with any passages you’d like added or that you have a question about!

Today we are looking at Philippians 1: 3-6: 

3 I thank my God for every remembrance of you, 4 always in every one of my prayers for all of you, praying with joy 5 for your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. 

I love watching football, at the start of the fourth quarter, seeing players hold up four fingers on their hands. I always thought that was cool. Not just because I’m a fan of the Four Horsemen in wrestling, but I love what that means.  It’s the fourth quarter. The end of the game.  Almost over, and the team that is able to finish strong will win. The team that is able to fight through the exhaustion and find a way to keep playing, even when they are tired that is the team that will win.  

To win the game, you have to finish strong.  That’s why you practice during the summer and work so hard.  You want to finish strong. 

That’s what I think of when I read this passage.  Paul has confidence that God, who began a good work in us when He saved us through His grace, will finish that work within us.  God will not give up on us.  God will not quit. God will finish strong in our lives.  He will finish the work that He began in us.  He saved us.  He will grow us.  He will perfect us.  

It is His work in us; remember that. We don’t grow ourselves; He grows us. It is His grace that does the work.  Paul has joy, Paul has hope, Paul has peace because He knows that God is not done. 

He is still at work. He will not quit.  

So, let’s do our part. Let’s give God’s grace room to work in our lives; let’s give the Spirit the space to transform us. Let’s give God what He needs to transform us.  He is still at work.  He will not give up on us.  

Have hope; God is still at work on us!  And He will not quit! 

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