Finishing the Race with God's Grace

Philippians 1:3-11 beautifully captures Paul's heart of gratitude and confidence in God's work in the lives of believers. These verses are a reminder that it’s not about how we start the race but how we finish, a truth that echoes in our own faith journeys.

God isn't just interested in us beginning well; He’s invested in seeing us cross the finish line. In Philippians 1:6, Paul writes, “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” God always finishes what He starts, and He’s calling us to do the same in the race He has set before us.

God Finishes What He Starts

From Creation to the Cross, God has always completed what He began. Think about people like Noah, Moses, Nehemiah, and even Paul—they all faced challenges, but God empowered them to finish their missions. Even Jesus, in His final moments on the cross, declared, "It is finished." He completed the greatest mission of all.

But, as we all know, life isn’t easy. When we’re serving God, we can hit all sorts of bumps in the road—disappointments, lack of support, comparison with others, financial pressures, and family stress. It’s during these times we question whether we’re still on the right path, doing God’s will. But God is faithful, and if He’s called us, He will equip us to persevere and finish the race He’s set before us.

Loving with Wisdom

Here’s where it gets real: when it comes to love, passion alone isn’t enough. We can feel all fired up about our love for God, but if that passion isn’t undergirded with wisdom and insight, it won’t last. Loving God means growing in our relationship with Him, and that growth comes through life’s experiences—the good and the bad. It’s in the difficulties and pain that we get to know God in ways we never had before. When we seek Him in those tough moments, we discover more of who He is, and that deepens our love for Him in ways that pure passion never could.

I moved to Lucknow full of excitement and passion, eager to serve God and see His greatness unfold. But a couple of years into ministry, things got tough. Some of the people who once accepted Christ fell away, and I wasn’t seeing the kind of response or acceptance I had hoped for. On the outside, everything looked fine, but on the inside, I was struggling—struggling with anxiety, sexual temptations, and even the temptation to quit.

In those moments, the passionate love I had for God was tested. But love is more than a feeling—it’s a choice we make daily, even when things are hard. I haven’t done it perfectly, and honestly, I’ve stumbled more times than I care to admit. But God has been so merciful. He’s lifted me up when I’ve fallen, treated me with kindness when all I deserved was to be cut off. Like Paul said, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst” (1 Timothy 1:15). I’ve experienced that grace firsthand.

Living Right: The Fruit of God’s Faithfulness

Paul talks about being “filled with the fruit of righteousness” in Philippians 1:11. How do we live this out? By being transformed by God's faithfulness and forgiveness. It all goes back to the cross—God's ultimate display of faithfulness. When we meditate on the Gospel, letting it be the song in our hearts, it moves us from just trying to follow rules to living out of an overflow of love.

Take the Pharisee and the woman with the alabaster jar. One was focused on legalism, the other on love. When we truly know and understand the Gospel, it shapes our hearts and our lives, and righteousness becomes the natural fruit of that transformation.

God is calling us to finish the race He’s set before us—not in our strength, but in His grace. The good work He started in you, He will carry it on to completion. Let’s press on, knowing that He is with us every step of the way.