Just Another Cow Flop Tuesday
So there I sat, head in hands. I'd blown it again. It seems like just when I make progress in my faith walk I stumble back into old patterns and foolish attempts at making my own way. How could Jesus want me on his team? When will I get it together? Why does it seem when I have a whole pasture to enjoy, I find the one cow flop to step in?
Out at the Chapel in the Pines in Camp Sherman they have a group of speakers that I'm a part of who take turns bringing the weekly message. Each one is kind of an independent contractor where we say what God puts on our heart. This summer we chose to plan a series of sermons from Philippians in the fall. We launched in October and it's been really good so far, and the small congregation looks forward to what the next guy has to say about the part he's been given. I got to go second and my section included one of the most encouraging verses in all scripture that is found near the beginning of chapter one. Paul writes,
"I am confident of this very thing, that God who began a good work in you will perfect it until the coming of the Lord Jesus."
Paul is writing to a young church who have started well, but who have their issues...just like me, and you. He recalls his time in Philippi and their growth in Jesus and includes this line in the midst of it. This simple sentence holds much of the promise of God to every follower of Jesus. Let’s break it down but leave the first phrase for last.
“…that God who began a good work in you…”
You cannot bring to life a life in God by yourself. Over and over the Bible teaches that God is the initiator of faith and we simply respond to his entreaty. He loved us before we ever knew of him, he did what we could never do in opening a door straight to the presence of God, and he pursued us through all of our experiences to know him and live under his smile. This stands as our justification. Salvation, when we believed, was ours. The sentence continues,
"...will perfect it..."
Three small words that speak of the ongoing promise of the Holy Spirit in every believer's life. Imagine that. The God of the universe who created and holds it all together invests his best in you. Wrap your brain around the truth that this life we live and all that is in it, God uses to mold and craft and whittle his image in you. This is the life he will use to do this, not some dreamy more-perfect existence. Now. Here. In all your ways he is at work. This churns along as our sanctification. This salvation is at work every day. Then he goes on,
"...until the coming of the Lord Jesus."
Like the red button that pops out when the turkey is ready, so will we someday stand complete, whole, done. We will see him face to face. We shall settle into our place he has prepared for us. All emptiness and pain and sorrow and goodbyes will be done. We will be home. This glorification is God's promise. Salvation for all time and beyond. Justification, sanctification, glorification. It's all here. But let's take a moment and loop back to the opening phrase.
"I am confident of this very thing..."
The word translated "confident" talks about persuasion as a result of evidence. Paul looks over the landscape of scripture and at the believers he knows, and, in spite of the hardness that life can deliver and the fickleness of our faith at times, he is confident in the lifelong work of God in each Jesus-follower's spiritual journey. As much as we fail and flail, we would be wise to hold to the same confidence. For sure, we are to join with God in the spiritual work in us with wise choices and intentional actions that reflect Jesus, but at the end of the day, it is God who is at work in you and for you.
Confidence like this does good stuff in a believer.
Gets you up in the morning with anticipation
Provides courage to face challenges
Looks for the hidden hand of God in situations
Allows peace in the darkest night
Read over Philippians 1:6 again. Let it sink into your core. You are on a journey, and we all have a guide who knows where we are heading because he has gone before us and waves us forward.
So, friend, this doesn't have to be just another cow flop Tuesday. You can face today with confidence even if you, yet again, have to scrape a bit of smelly stuff off your soul. And let's go together. Life is better when we travel with others.
How 'bout some music...
And a funny for the road...
The elderly priest, speaking to the younger priest, said, "You had a good idea to replace the first four pews with plush bucket theater seats. It worked like a charm. The front of the church always fills first now."
The young priest nodded, and the old priest continued, "And you told me adding a little more beat to the music would bring young people back to church, so I supported you when you brought in that rock 'n' roll gospel choir. Now our services are consistently packed to the balcony."
"Thank you, Father," answered the young priest. "I am pleased that you are open to the new ideas of youth."
"All of these ideas have been well and good," said the elderly priest, "But I'm afraid you've gone too far with the drive-thru confessional."
"But, Father," protested the young priest, "My confessions have nearly doubled since I began that!"
"Yes," replied the elderly priest, "And I appreciate that. But the flashing neon sign, 'Toot 'n Tell or Go to Hell' canNOT stay on the church roof."