Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ.”
NL Daily Devotion for Friday, July 16, 2021
by R. M. Fergus, Clergy Stuff
Paul believed Jesus’ return was imminent. There was a certain urgency in his communication with those early churches. He loved those Philippians like crazy—they were the “good” ones out of the churches he’d started—and he knew that when Jesus arrived any day now, they would be ready.
That, of course, didn’t happen the way Paul expected. And two thousand years later, it seems like we have all the time in the world to get our acts together. Which is maybe a good thing, since for all my striving, I’m yet to be anywhere near ready. On the other hand, it could be a recipe for sloth. “Yeah, yeah, I’ll get around to it. It’s been a couple thousand years already. I’m sure I have time.”
In the end, we never actually arrive at a point of completion in this lifetime. We can at best hope to be at a place of peace and self-acceptance and harmony with God to the best of our ability in any given moment. And that’s enough for God. In fact, just the effort is enough. In fact in fact, we can even fail utterly in putting forth any effort and that’s enough. It’s Jesus that begins a good work in is and Jesus who brings it to completion in Jesus’ time. And that’s a reason to rejoice.
What practices help me feel I am working in harmony with Jesus’ plan for me?
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