He’s Still Working on Me

February 7, 2020

And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. Philippians 1:6 NLT

We’ve all seen the bumper sticker, “Please be patient—God isn’t finished with me yet.” A friend told me that he had it on his car as a pre-emptive “Oops! Sorry! Forgive me!” for his sometimes-erratic driving.

Fact is, God IS still working on all of us. The day we received Jesus Christ as our Savior, God began working His plan in our lives, and it’s all good. He has a very specific outcome for us; that we would become like His Son Jesus. Think about it for a minute. How much difference is there between you and Jesus? Right. Me, too.

That guarantees that God has a lifetime project with each of us. He does it by working in intimate relationship with us as we stay close and cooperate. He knows how to use all the circumstances of our lives to shape and refine us. Not all of the work is pleasant and painless. Not every situation that comes into our lives is something God chose. Sometimes the things that come into our lives originate in the poor choices and sins of others, or simply the fallout from our broken world. But nothing is beyond His redemptive power and design. God takes every element that is surrendered to Him and makes it part of the masterpiece likeness to Christ He is creating.

No one ever gets finished here. God doesn’t have a workroom where He makes us perfect, declares us finished, and then puts us out for display. The refining process will finally be finished on that day when Jesus Christ comes to take us to be with Him forever.

How encouraging! In another place Paul says, “For we are his masterpiece.” The things that happen in my life today are tools to complete the work. I don’t need to worry that anything is wasted. God knows the materials He needs to complete the vision for me.

• Dear Father, You and I both know there is much to do in me for me to be like Jesus. Thank You for the work You have already done, even the changing and rearranging I didn’t understand. I want to stay on Your workbench, in Your hands, so You can shape and mold me in every way You see necessary. Thank You for believing in me. I love You. Amen.