Began

“He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus” Philippians 1:6

Began – The Guaranteed Success Formula!  Oh, if only we could find such a secret.  Why, we could revolutionize the world.  The problem is not the Success Formula.  There are plenty of those around.  “Money Making Internet Plans”, “Buy Real Estate with NO Money Down”, “The Doctor’s Weight Loss Program”.  Whatever your goal, there is always some “success formula”.  But the real problem with all of these is the guarantee.  They all come with guarantees, but the guarantee is usually a refund if it doesn’t work.  That should tell you something about their “success”.  They only guarantee failure.

Paul has a different approach to guaranteed success.  Paul begins his thought with “who” not “what”.  Paul’s guarantee is based on the fact that it is God’s work from beginning to end.  He started the process in me and He will finish it.   It is not about my formula for spiritual success.  God never gives you your money back because His transformation never fails.

The Greek verb here is enarchomai.  It combines en and archomai for the meaning “to begin in”.  It is used only one other time in the New Testament (Galatians 3:3).  The root of this word is archo, a word that means “beginning” or “first in rank order”.  It is the word found in the phrase, “in the beginning”.   Did you realize that God is the God of beginnings?  He brought into being all that is.  He initiates, sustains and empowers everything.  When it comes to knowing how to begin, God is unparalleled.  In fact, the opening word (a single Hebrew word) of the Bible is “beginning”. 

What God begins, He finishes.  God never stops mid-stream.  His beginnings always result in completions.  And that’s why Paul can say, “I am completely confident”. 

Sometimes I look back over my years and I am so saddened by the starts and stops of my life.  There are so many good intentions and so few glorious completions.  Especially when it comes to my obedience to Jesus.  My life is full of refunds.  In those moments, I hear Paul reminding me that God never quits on me.  He began something in me and He will never stop until the destiny that He had in mind is completed.  Thank God it was not up to me.

Today:  Look back at one of your failed beginnings.  Then thank Him that He looks back on His work with you and never sees any stops of refunds.  God never quits.