Philippians 1:6

In the sentence, "He Who has begun a good work in you," the word "begun" has a solemn, ceremonial ring to it. "Inaugurated" might be a better word. It was no light matter to begin that work: let us always remember it cost the life of the Son of God to begin it in any of us. But what comfort it is to look away from ourselves and our failures to Him Who began the work! We may count on HIM to finish it. … And if it is God's work, it cannot fail, for "HE DOES NOT FAIL."

Notice the ground of his confidence. With the Corinthians it is because God was faithful. In Galatians, where the trouble was more serious, the Apostle says he was in doubt about them, until he thought of the Lord… Here it is different. His confidence rests not only on what God is in character and purpose. It rests on what he saw of Christ in them, by the Holy Spirit… He saw such clear enjoyment of Christ, and he saw them making Christ's interests on earth their own. So his confidence went past a general hope of seeing them with Christ one day. He was sure the work of God in them was solid all the way through.

Who had produced in the Philippians this spirit of love and devotion to the work of the gospel? It was the God of the good news and of love. This was a guarantee that He who had begun the good work would complete it by the day of Christ. Sweet thought! — now that we no longer have the apostle, and no longer have bishops and deacons as the Philippians had in those days. No one can take God from us. He is the true and living source of all blessing. He never changes, and He stands above the weaknesses, and even the faults, that rob Christians of every other resource.

From this Scripture we learn that God is working His own good work in the hearts of His people. He works in sovereignty and love. His aim is to bring them out with Christ in the day of His glory. The different conditions of life, and the varied circumstances God's people live in, are shaping in them what God will display of Christ, and with Christ, when He displays Jesus before the eyes of the universe.

Who began the good work in you if you are a believer in the Lord Jesus? The Holy Spirit of God did. It was He who convicted you of sin. It was He who led you to put your trust in Christ… The Holy Spirit took you up in grace, and He has a definite purpose in view. He is going to make you like the Lord Jesus Christ, and He never begins a work that He does not intend to finish… When you were a poor sinner, the Holy Spirit had power enough to break down your opposition to God. Do you think for one moment that He lacks the power to finish the work He began?

Do you need assurance? Do you need a sense in your soul that what you received in trusting Christ will last, and that you cannot be lost? It is here. The work of God started your history. The work of God will complete it. But I can also tell you that you have some work to do as well. "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you both to will and to work for His good pleasure"… He does not stop working between the start and the finish.

Praying for other believers gives you the power to see all the good in them… If we prayed more for them, we would have more joy in them, and more courage about them. It is always wrong to lose courage about the saints.