He’s Still Working on Me (Life Lessons from Philippians)

Before I begin today’s post, I do want to give a bit of explanation as to what’s ahead on Growing4Life as related to last week’s post. When I gave the introduction for the Religions Study last week, I had no idea the scope of what I had undertaken. As I started to dig into the first part on Catholicism, I found so much information that I began to realize that this will take much time to sort through it all and determine what is most important to include in a single post.

I am considering writing up a longer, more detailed pdf version for each religion featured. Would this be something any of you would appreciate? I could attach the more detailed pdf to the posts, if it would be helpful. My decision to do this will be partially based on your response. I am also considering writing up a “Religion at a Glance” pdf to attach. Would this be helpful? Your responses would be most appreciated as I try to determine the best way to go about this study. I love to hear your thoughts.

As I have begun my study, I have come to understand that this is a HUGE subject and I desire to give it the attention it deserves. I am not sure how quickly I can accomplish this with my other life responsibilities. But I do want to let you know that I am committed to this series, no matter how long it takes. I will add them to this page, as I write them.

I also wanted to apologize that you received two of the same post last week. I was having trouble with the WordPress platform and, in order to fix, it I needed to delete and repost the post. In the process of doing that, I never even thought about the fact that you would receive the same post twice. Please accept my apologies.

Okay, on to Philippians.

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This month, the Growing4Life Bible Reading Challenge is taking a break from Revelation and heading over to Philippians. It is a welcome break after the heaviness of Revelation (which, by the way, has been an incredible study!). As I’ve been listening to and reading the first chapter of Philippians this week, many, many thoughts come to mind. Thoughts of application to my own life and also thoughts of what God is saying through Paul in this short letter as compared to modern day “Christianity”. I thought I may share a few posts dedicated to these insights and thoughts throughout the upcoming month. I hope they are a blessing, particularly for those who are participating in the 2024 Bible Reading Challenge this year.

Today, I’d like to focus on just a short verse from Philippians, chapter one:

Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ (verse 6)

There is nothing like a break from “normal” to remind me how inadequate and, yes, sinful, that I still am. My husband had the second surgery on his schedule (you will remember that last summer he had his back surgery and now last week, he had his first knee replacement, with a second still to come) and so I find myself once again in the role of caregiver. I am trying so hard to be the best caregiver I can be, but I realized the other day how woefully short I fall.

For example, I am just not natured to be a caregiver. While I love my family so very much, I would never make a good nurse. The other day, I accidentally handled my husband’s leg more roughly than I should have and someone made a sarcastic remark about my lack of care. I almost started crying. I truly didn’t even think of it (oh, how I wish I was someone who DID think of these things. I hate that I am not more thoughtful and careful). The comment filled me with so much disappointment in myself because I so badly want to be the best caregiver I can be. And yet, while I can improve, this will never be my natural bent and I will always have to work much harder than many of you at doing this well.

And then there is the fleshly response to not sleeping through the night. Isn’t it so much harder to be godly and patient and humble when you aren’t sleeping? These kinds of times are tests and our responses show our true hearts.

We can get a bit proud and then something jerks us out of routine and we realize that, while God has certainly changed us, we have much more changing to do. After I have time to process these humbling moments, I find myself thankful for them because they remind me of why I need a Savior so desperately and also help to release my grip on this world, as I contemplate the perfection that will be mine in the life to come. Oh, I can’t even imagine not struggling with sin. Can you??

This change in routine and the subsequent humiliation/humbling that has come as a result is why I found verse six of Philippians very encouraging as I read it this morning.

Let’s read it again–

Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ

Paul is reminding the Philippians that Jesus Christ began a good work in His redeemed children and will continue that good work until He returns.

While caregiving may not be my natural bent, scripture makes it clear that we are to lovingly and thoughtfully care for one another and so Christ will continue to help me grow in this area of my life. And my normal sinful responses will slowly grow less and less–even when I am unable to sleep.

And, thankfully, as I mature in the faith, I do realize that my responses to frustrations and my tendency towards selfishness has improved at some level. Last night, just as we were ready to go to sleep, a cup of water was spilled, which meant a change of clothing (not an easy task at this particular stage of surgery). When it happened, I was frustrated but I was able to be more patient and didn’t say a word. That was definitely not how I would have reacted in the past. Isn’t it nice when we can see the sanctification process taking place? These things encourage us as we grow in the Lord.

If we are a redeemed child of God, then we are not left to our own devices. We are being sanctified day by day, through the truth of God’s Word (John 17:17) and through the work of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5) in our lives. God is completing a good work in us and He will continue this work until He returns. And that is something for which we can be truly thankful!