This reflection originally appeared in Daily Grace: The Mockingbird Devotional, Vol. 2:
I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ. (Phil 1:6)
In the midst of dire news headlines, good work is still happening in the world. It is happening in our cities and countries by way of community-building and legislation. It is happening in our families as babies are brought home from the hospital, or as a prodigal child is welcomed home in forgiveness and love. It is happening in our minds and spirits when we have a breakthrough in therapy. Good work is happening all around, and it is an honor that we get to be a part of it in so many ways.
However, we have not yet seen the completion of the good work in the world. We end each day well aware of the ways that our world is still very much incomplete: We could always use more therapy; our families are still holding onto heartache and resentment; and our cities and countries are wracked with cycles of poverty and inequality. In this verse from Philippians, we read that God will bring the good work to completion by the day of Jesus Christ. It is not yet the day of completion, and that truth hurts daily.
Thankfully, the fate of the good work among us is eternally and fully in the hands of God. If we were the ones to either start the good work or bring it to completion, our egos would mess up the entire operation. Luckily for us, God begins the good work, and God completes it.
So today, as you consider these words of St. Paul to the Philippians, be comforted that the whole world does not, in fact, rest on your shoulders. We are graciously given the invitation to be a part of the good work that God is doing, but we do not start the work nor do we complete it. That power and honor rests solely on the shoulders of our suffering Savior, the One who met our broken world face-to-face with the ultimate Good Work: a sacrifice that concludes our story of pain with mercy and, finally, redemption on the day of Jesus Christ.
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