Philippians 1:6 (CEB)

I’m sure about this: the one who started a good work in you will stay with you to complete the job by the day of Christ Jesus.


Reflection

I have a therapist friend who tells her procrastinating clients that “sometimes done is better than none.” She speaks to individuals all the time whose fear of failure keeps them from starting troubling tasks. Whether we are classic avoiders or simply hate our chores, we all have those things we put off or don’t want to complete because we dread such activities. Sometimes it may not be the chores we avoid, but our interactions with others with whom we just want to be done. We may even ask ourselves, why am I doing this, or why am I dealing with (fill-in the blank)..? With our distaste, perhaps we complete our actions or interactions with little care or enthusiasm. We are fortunate that our Creator didn’t just create us with such joyless attitudes!

When I think of God’s joy for us, I am reminded that Jesus Christ is walking with us toward a beautiful, joy-filled ultimate ending. Furthermore, God does not want us to just get through the tasks that are our lives, but to live and do good works with joy in tandem. Christ will stay with us for the completion of these good works — achieved in a final, shared and celebrated victory, all together! So the good works we do are to be completed with joy, and in tandem with our Christian brothers and sisters– shared in Christ’s name! 

By Barbara Carlson


For Pondering & Prayer

Christ walks with us as we do good works in his name. But those works are to be achieved within the shared community of believers. The completion of our good works may not result in the ending we’ve envisioned, but imagine how much more good we can do all together!  

How do you see our Christian community as joyfully completing good works together in Jesus’ name? What are there other good works that you see that we still need to try in Jesus’ name?

Prayer: Creator God, thank you for creating us with joy and thanksgiving. Thank you for sending Jesus to partner with us as we do those works to his honor and glory. Help us to envision our shared good deeds as part of all the good that comes from you. Helps us to complete the good works we do in your Good Name. Amen.