Devotional: God Works in Us

Philippians 1:1-11 “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus” (Phil. 1:6, NASB). Have you ever started to do something with enthusiasm but later you felt exhausted, and you were tempted to give in to your exhaustion. You continued to work at the task, and you discovered that deep down inside of you there was a source of renewed energy that enabled you to complete what you had started out to do. Runners who have had this experience call this “getting a second wind.” The prophet Isaiah calls us to wait on the Lord, (Isaiah 40:31) the Everlasting God, who faints not nor does He grow weary (v. 28). He empowers those who wait for Him to endure to the end. The apostle Paul was in prison. The church at Philippi had strongly supported him in his ministry as he labored in preaching the Gospel while confined. Paul wrote this church a letter to thank them for their support. He also writes to encourage them to continue their work in the service of their Lord. This church was of little financial means, but she did what she could to support Paul. Paul assures them that they are working because God is working in them. He will not forsake them. Instead, God will work in the church until the day that Jesus returns. Then, the work of the church will be completed. When we feel exhausted, frustrated, weak, and we are tempted to give up, God works in us so that we can accomplish what He has started in us.