Reflection | Philippians 1:3-6 | 29 October 2020

 

A letter from Anthony...

“I thank my God every time I remember you.  In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:3-6

 

A painter named John Sargent once painted an image of some roses in such detail and with such care that even his harshest critics found themselves praising his work.  It was a small picture, but the quality of the artwork is said to have been so good that it approached perfection.  Sargent considered it to be his best work and he was so proud of it that even though he received many offers he refused to sell it.  Instead, whenever he was discouraged about his abilities as a painter he would look at that painting and remind himself; “I painted that” and his confidence would instantly return.

When Paul wrote these words to the believers in Philippi he was expressing the encouragement that he had received from them, because of their faith in the Lord.  Their partnership in the gospel gave Paul confidence in what God was doing in and through them. 

When Sargent looked at the work of his own hands he was reminded of what he had once done, and he regained his confidence in the work of his own hands. 

But as those in Christ our confidence must not be in what we have done, or hope to do, because even our greatest work, and our most sacrificial deed is nothing more than a dirty rag compared to the sacrifice that Christ made on our behalf.

Rather, may we find our confidence in God’s ability to complete what He has begun in us.  May our hope and joy be in the good news that we have been forgiven through Christ.  And may this good news give us the confidence we need to serve Christ and to spur one another on to love and good deeds for the glory and honour of Christ.  

In Christ, Anthony

Image:  https://www.wikiart.org/en/john-singer-sargent/roses

* Possibly not the painting of roses mentioned