And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:6 ESV)
Faithfulness
General George Patton was famous for finishing what he started, even annoyingly so. From the first time he put on a US Army uniform, when he started to carry out an order, he finished carrying out that order. He was therefore known for burning the midnight oil, digging eternal ditches, and not giving up before the finish line.
That is a hard way to live. But it is a form of faithfulness.
We who are God’s servants might desire to be more like Patton. Looking back at the end of the day, we often realize that we gave up too soon on some task that we believed He set before us.
We stopped forgiving, when it became too hard (and well before 70 times 7!!!). We stopped loving when it became too hard (and well before we reached Christ’s standard of love). We stopped praying, reading His Word, and listening to Him, when it became too hard (and well before He was done communicating with us).
It is hard to be faithful.
But Paul assures us that we will become more like Patton, NOT through our effort, or will, or practice. But because God, we actually started us on His path, will bring us through to the end.
In fact, we will be exactly as faithful, at the end of our path, that He wanted us to be! His sovereignty ensures that. We will not be as faithful as we desire, or hope, or aim at… but He finishes us right where He wants us to be. He brings us to completion.
Choosing to be faithful is not really choosing to try harder, grit our teeth, or be more successful. Choosing to be faithful means that we throw ourselves at HIS merciful work in our lives. Choosing to be faithful means that we acknowledge it is HIM who enables us to finish whatever we are able to finish.
He gives us faithfulness.
Because faithfulness is a gift.