“Every time you cross my mind, I break out in exclamations of thanks to God.
There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears.”
Philippians 1:3, 5-6 MSG
What a relationship! A deep, abiding relationship! Every time this person crossed the Apostle Paul’s mind, he couldn’t help but thank God for him.
Was it this person’s friendship, kindness, and generosity on-display? Those would be great attributes of a co-worker to appreciate.
But Paul went deeper. He went to the Source of those character qualities. He was overwhelmed with thankfulness TO GOD….and what God is doing in-and-through this person. What God is initiating. How God pursues us. And how we need to respond. It’s a two-way street.
See, if someone is initiating a relationship with you, the only way you will benefit from that pursuit is to respond. If not, the relationship is one-sided or it’s completely broken off.
God, however, never stops pursuing you. He loves you. He desires a personal relationship with you. God wants to start a great work in you. Not only does He want to start it, He promises to complete it. There’s no unfinished business with God. What He starts, He finishes.
It’s ours to respond. And not in a way where we are “sitting down on the outside, but still standing up on the inside”. Even if we belligerently respond, He will keep pursuing us. He doesn’t take “no” lightly and walk away. He keeps knocking and knocking and knocking, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” Revelation 3:20 NIV
Why wouldn’t you open the door to the One who desires a life-changing, positive relationship with you? A relationship that will transform your life into a “great work?” A relationship with a guarantee of completion and final reward? A “flourishing finish!” That’s a win-win relationship just by answering the knock on the door and inviting Him in.
Have you allowed God to begin a good work in you? There isn’t the slightest doubt in my mind that He will keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish.
