But we behaved gently when we were among you, like a devoted mother nursing and cherishing her own children. So, being thus tenderly and affectionately desirous of you, we continued to share with you not only God’s good news (the Gospel) but also our own lives as well, for you had become so very dear to us.
2 Thessalonians 2:7-8 AMPC
My heart burns for the Body of Christ to be made more and more into the image of Jesus (see Ephesians 4:12-13), which includes most of you reading this. My motivation for writing to you is no different than the motivation of a mother tenderly nursing her baby; to share her very life with her baby; to tenderly serve that baby with the nourishment he or she needs to grow into the full-bodied man or woman God created them to be. So it is here; my heart is not to share mere words with you, but to invest in you my very life; my very flesh and blood so that you would be nourished up in the Word of God and be filled with His fulness.
That said, I have one thing to share with you today that may change your life–at the very least, this is something that can encourage you today. About seven years ago, a trusted and accurate prophet of God spoke these words to Jenny and I: “Your lives are about to get busy doing God’s will.” I had no idea what was coming when I first heard these words, but I was excited to step into a deeper level of God’s plan for my life. Little did I know what the path of obedience would actually look like!
I write to you today from my favorite study spot deep in the heart of the Cal Poly campus. My life is filled with deadlines, tension, disagreements, more tension, stress, sleepless nights, more stress, constant needs from my kids, constant housework that never seems to go away, and the ever-present temptation to give up and do something easier with my life. And I would have thrown it all away years ago had I not heard from God. You see, my prophetic friend shared a word that came to pass exactly as spoken: our lives are indeed busy doing God’s will. But I want you to know that when you stand on the Word of God, you will not be disappointed. God is faithful!
In Philippians 1:6, Paul encourages the church (and you and me, today!) to walk in a supreme level of confidence that comes from knowing God’s faithfulness in your life. I like the AMPC translation:
And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you.
In the Greek, the phrase that describes how God will “continue” His work in us is the word epiteleō, which is a combination of the words epi and teleō. Teleō means to perform, execute, complete, fulfill, or bring to completion. What a powerful promise–that God will perform, execute, complete, fulfill, and bring to a completion that which He has started in you!
But that isn’t all. The word teleō by itself is tremendous, but it becomes even more powerful when the little word epi is attached to it, as we see here in Philippians 1:6. The word epi carries the idea of closeness, nearness, or personal involvement. By adding this word epi to teleō, the Holy Spirit is saying through Paul that God is intimately and personally involved in performing, executing, completing, and fulfilling the good thing He started in you until it is completely finished, with nothing leftover!
Wow! God is never finished with any of us. When we say yes to following God’s plan for our lives, He promises to work night and day to complete, execute, and totally fulfill the good thing He has started in you. Have you said yes to God’s plan for your life but are facing roadblocks, challenges, and obstacles on that path? God has not left you out to dry. He is with you; working personally in you to bring everything He said about you to full completion. Are you wavering in your faith? Do not give up; He is faithful to His promise to energize you to carry on with the assignment He has given you (see Philippians 2:12-13).
In summary, God says to you today, “Be encouraged by My Word. Be filled with My Spirit. Don’t let the cares of this life weigh you down and slow your race; run swift and light in My love and in My Promises. Let My easy and light burden be the only burden you carry. Get rid of the things that weigh you down! Walk in the lightness of My provision, yes, run with the speed and agility that I provide through My Holy Spirit. Be encouraged and filled!”