The good work is transformational. God initiates that good work and the Holy Spirit contributes to its continuance in partnership with me. The part that I play is my unique contribution. The light is pure while I am the nicked, scratched, yet functioning crystal prism.
Philippians 1:6
. . . 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.
The good work is polishing the glass, repairing the damage, making my vessel a more accurate expression of what is within.
Sometimes I lose my confidence that God is still working within me to transform me. But then, in brilliant moments of clarity or flashes of understanding, I see Truth. My role is to embrace my life and all that has been given to me, the challenges as well as the joys, the hardships and the plenty, the health and the disease, all of them are my share of the good work.
As I hold fast to the unwavering inner light, that one and only Holy Spirit, I can give that hope (also called the blessed hope) to others. I have never been moved by the salvation message regarding some heaven or hell of the future, but I am sure of the power of God to fill a life today to stand against all things, from the tragedies of Job, to the ravages of war, or the blindness of greed and ambition.
This is the hope of glory: the Light within working goodness outward.
The transformation often happens way too slowly for our liking, doesn’t it? We are all obviously a work in progress. Of course, it is my component of the partnership that causes the agonizing delay. The embracing of my life is not nearly as challenging as moving beyond my lack of that last coveted fruit of the spirit: self-control. Hoping to see more evidence of His Light in me today. I surely can’t do life without Him! So thankful for this verse filled with Hope and for your reminder. Thank you!