TAKING PERSONAL INVENTORY OF MY LIFE…

PHILIPPIANS 1:3-6: “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, 5 for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

OBSERVATION: Paul writes the letter to the Philippians from a prison cell. He was in chains for the cause of the Gospel, yet he was free! He greets the church in Philippi, along with Timothy, as bondservants of Christ. Now he reassures this young church that he is praying for them and that God is faithful to complete the work which He has begun in their lives – until the day of Jesus Christ’s return. What a wonderful promise! What blessed assurance! Yet, it was not just a blanket promise. It was a promise with context. It was a promise that flowed from their engagement, their partnership in the Gospel. In other words, it was a promise to those who were purposefully and actively pursuing the will of God for their lives. It was a promise to the church that was engaged in the ministry of the Gospel, in proclaiming Jesus and making disciples according to His command.

Each one of us has a part to play in the life of the church. Each one of us has been given unique gifts and talents by the Holy Spirit. We are called as good stewards to use these to build up the Body of Christ and to proclaim the Gospel and make disciples. This is not the call to an institution, it is the call to each and every believer. The promise in verse 6 flows from this call. Everything else we do in life will pass away. Our jobs are not eternal. Our homes are not eternal. Our role as parents is not eternal. All the things that occupy our time in this life, most of it will return to dust – EXCEPT THE SEED WE SOW IN THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE GOSPEL! When we fully engage our lives, our gifts, our talents, in serving The Lord through the fellowship of the Gospel – we are sowing eternal seed that will never pass away. We are investing in lives and hearts – and we are moving into our eternal destiny and purpose. As we do this, we have this great promise – “…being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:6)

Lord, help me to take inventory of my life, my time, my finances, my gifts and talents. Am I using these primarily for things that will turn to dust, or am I investing them, as You are directing me, into lives and hearts, in the fellowship of the Gospel, into that which is eternal? Speak to me this morning and help me realign my life according to Your plan and will for me. Help me fully engage in Your will for my life. In Jesus Name!