God’s Work Will Be Completed
I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the Gospel from the first day until now. 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. (Philippians 1: 3-6) New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
Paul begins his letter to the Philippians with great joy, expressing his confidence that God will complete the work of faith and growth in those who are in Christ Jesus. Perhaps Paul's joy in these new Christians at Philippi was that he was seeing them by faith. Not as they were, but as they would be when God's work was done. He was looking at them with the eye of faith. He was sure that He who began a good work in them was going to finish it.
I heard of an artist who called a friend in and asked him to comment on a picture he was painting. He said, "this is my masterpiece. It is beautiful." The man said, "I guess I don't see what you see. It just looks like dabs of different colors to me, without form or anything." The artist said, "Oh I forgot. I'm seeing it as it will be when finished. You are seeing it as it is now."
This is what Paul was doing. He was seeing these Christians as they would be and he thanks God it's going to happen. God uses even those difficult situations in our lives to transform us into the kind of people he wants us to be. Paul’s prayer for his readers is that they may grow in love, in knowledge and insight, and that they may produce the harvest of righteousness.
Prayer: Gracious and Merciful God, help us to find comfort in knowing that you are working in our lives, even to recognize that through the difficult times we are living now you are transforming us into a loving community that care for reach other. In Jesus Christ, our Lord we pray, Amen!
The peace of Christ be with you,
Pastor Jorge
May this devotion provide you with a moment of faithful reflection and care. You are involved in ministries of justice and witness, in ministries of standing up and standing with people working to create better systems and communities, in ministries of learning and searching and researching to become more aware and awakened, more technologically savvy and proficient, more virtually and personally present in your churches and communities and world. Each of us who serve as members of your Wisconsin Cabinet write these devotions in grateful prayer for you – for sustenance and buoyancy, for strength and courage, for safety and just actions, and for faith and love to be full and fulfilled in your daily lives. God’s grace and blessings, God’s challenge and healthy discomfort, God’s Spirit and energy be with you, in the hope Christ offers us all.
La obra de Dios será Completada
“Doy gracias a mi Dios siempre que me acuerdo de vosotros. Siempre en todas mis oraciones ruego con gozo por todos vosotros, por vuestra comunión en el evangelio desde el primer día hasta ahora, estando persuadido de esto, que el que comenzó en vosotros la buena obra la perfeccionará hasta el día de Jesucristo. (Filipenses 1: 3-6) Versión Reina Valera 1995
Pablo comienza su carta a los Filipenses expresando con gran gozo su confianza en que Dios completara su obra de fe y crecimiento en aquellos que están en Cristo Jesus. Quizá el gozo de Pablo por estos nuevos cristianos en Filipo era que el los veía por fe. No como ellos eran, sino como serían cuando Dios terminara su obra en ellos. El los veía con los ojos de la fe. El estaba seguro de que aquel que había comenzado la buena obra en ellos la completaría.
Oí una vez acerca de un pintor quien llamo a un amigo y le pidió que le comentara acerca de una pintura que estaba pintando. Él le dijo, esta es mi obra maestra. Esta bella, le contesto el hombre, yo no veo lo que tu ves. Yo solo veo unos pocos de pintura regada de diferentes colores sin ninguna forma. El artista le respondió, Oh, se me olvido decirte que yo la veo como quedara cuando la termine, y tu la estas viendo como esta ahora.
Esto era lo que Pablo estaba haciendo. Él estaba viendo a estos cristianos como llegarían a ser, y le daba gracias a Dios porque el complementaria su obra en ellos. Dios usa aun las situaciones difíciles por las que atravesamos en nuestras vidas para transformarnos en aquellas personas que el quiere que seamos. La oración de Pablo por sus lectores es que ellos puedan crecer en amor, conocimiento, y visión, y que produzcan frutos de justicia.
Oración: Dios de gracia y de misericordia, ayúdanos a encontrar aliento en saber que tu estas obrando en nuestras vidas, aun de reconocer que a través de los tiempos difíciles que estamos viviendo en nuestras vidas en estos momentos, tu estas transformándonos en una comunidad de amor que cuida de los unos por los otros. En Jesucristo nuestro Señor oramos, Amen!
La Paz del Señor sea con ustedes,
Pastor Jorge