In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 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 (Phil 1:4-6).

Here, Paul, seeing how Christians at Philippi took partnership in the gospel from the time they were saved, give thanks to God, and confesses that it was by God that such partnership began, and that the same God will finish it. Note that he does not say that they began a good work, and they need to finish it. No, he says that it was God who began a good work in them, so the same God will carry it on to completion.

When it comes to the work we do for God’s kingdom, we often think that it is us who must do the work. Christians with this mentality often come to have complaints and doubts in their life. In their head they know they must do it, but they do not want to in their heart. Or, even if they say it is for God’s kingdom, it is actually for their own talents, abilities and efforts, with which they desire to get attentions from others. The reason why we tend to have this mentality is that we think we are the ones who came to church, heard God’s word, accepted Jesus and got saved. Yes, from a physical standpoint, that is true. But what if we see it from a spiritual standpoint?

It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy (Rom 9:16).

As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies on your account; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, for God's gifts and his call are irrevocable (Rom 11:28-29).

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. (John 15:16)

The fact that God chose you and me is a mystery. But one thing we know is that it was because of his mercy, love and compassion that he chose us. It was not because we had some qualifications and abilities. This is where our mistakes occur. When you think that you were chosen and saved because you were good enough, you will fail to receive the abundance of God’s goodness and love in your life, and will need to depend upon your own abilities and power. In this way, it is impossible to reign in life because it is only by God’s abilities and power that we reign in life.

How the apostles in the book of Acts lived sets a model for us. They did not try to reign in life thinking they must. No, instead, what they trusted was their election by God through Jesus Christ—the fact that they were loved and chosen. That was all!

Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us (Rom 8:33-34).

This is a key to our reining in life. If you trust your own qualifications and abilities, you will fail. The true qualifications are in the fact that you are a loved and chosen one. And the true abilities are not in your name, but in the name of Jesus.