A Work in Progress

 Read Philippians 1

You have made it through Paul’s letters to the Galatians and the Ephesians.  Now it’s on to the Philippians and Colossians. Paul wrote from prison in Rome.  The nature of that imprisonment could have been anything from chained in a dungeon to house arrest.  We suspect it was more of the latter.

The Romans were brutal in combat and maintaining control, but civil in many other ways, especially with people of some distinction.  What we do know is that Paul had received a gift from the church to which he sent this letter.

Paul sent his peace.  He rejoiced in the grace that he shared with this church.  They were partners.

Paul said he thanked God for them every time he prayed. He said that thinking of them brought him joy.

Paul was confident that God—Christ Jesus—who began a good work in them would continue it to completion.  Until the day that Jesus returns, God is shaping us into his image and likeness.

He takes all things and works them for our good.  We are his.  We are called according to his purpose.  We love the Lord.

God takes many things that people intended for evil and uses them for good.  We are a work in progress and the trials, temptations, and victories in our lives are just grist for the mill.  God uses them to help us grow and be more like him.

What is Paul telling us?  We are a work in progress.  We should not be discouraged when we miss the mark.  We should confess and get back in our race of faith.

We have to be like the quarterback that throws an interception or the pitcher that serves up a home run ball.  File it away and focus on what’s next.  For the Christian, we confess and get back in our race.

We must not become discouraged.  We are told that if we keep doing what God is leading us to do, it will lead to a harvest.

We are a work in progress and we do not give up.  We do not quit.  We do not become discouraged.  We are on God’s timetable and we don’t get frustrated when God is not on ours.

Paul said, here is my prayer for you.  Consider this prayer for us as well.

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

Paul challenged Timothy in a manner similar to this prayer. He said to study and show yourself worthy of handling the word of God.  Don’t be content with what you already know.  Study.

We can be content in our circumstances, but should be hungry to know more and more about God—to draw nearer to him. We can work harder to improve our circumstances but we don’t grumble or covet what others have.

We do covet the knowledge and discernment that God will grant our teachable spirit.

The modern term is lifelong learner.  We are to be hungry to learn God’s ways all of our lives.  We are a work in progress.  We are hungry to learn.

We have a teachable spirit.

Paul continued with more introductory information, direction, and even a little personal sharing about his thoughts in this whole apostle to the Gentiles business.  For now, let’s consider that we are a work in progress.

Let’s go so far as to say that we are God’s work in progress.  He has done what needs to be done for our salvation.  We are to grow in grace.

We are to be hungry for the word of God.  We are to be lifelong learners who want to master the instructions of our Master.

We are saved by grace but still a work in progress.  When you struggle with being a work in progress, consider that God already sees the masterpiece he made in you.  Remember these words from the letter to the Ephesians.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

The next time you are discouraged because you missed the mark for the fifteenth time today or this hour, cast off that discouragement.  Confess and get back in your race of faith.

God already sees the masterpiece that he made you to be. Trust him.

Amen.