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) This reminds me of the song we learned in Sunday school at a very early age…
He’s still working on me to make me what I ought to be.
It took Him just a week to make the moon and stars,
The sun and the earth and Jupiter and Mars.
How loving and patient He must be, He’s still working on me.
God wants to finish in us what He started when Christ entered our life. For me it was at a very young age. I’m sure God knew the project He was undertaking back then and all the work that needed to be done. As I look back on that beginning over 40 years ago I’m amazed at what He has done. The transformation is nothing short of miraculous! It took the power of God and help from a lot of other Christians to continue that good work.
There were many times however over those years I was resistant to His working. There were periods in my life when He was working on me rather than in me. I was wishing to be used by God rather than working on the changes He desired for me. I wanted transformation into the likeness of Christ without trials. In other words I wanted God’s work in me to be easy. I wanted to be used by God without pursuing Him. I wanted to form Christ in others without being transformed myself. I’m sure you can relate. It took me some time until I realized that God is working in us not just for us but, for the sake of others as well. God is working in us to mold us to be a tool to craft others more into the likeness of Christ.
So how is God working in you now? Are you resisting change or persisting through the pain to be changed? Are you simply praying for growth or pursuing it? Transformation in the image of Christ is God’s ultimate goal. Trust Him as He does His good work and see the end result.
Let God’s grace work in you and on you so that you too can help others bring the good work Christ started in them closer to completion.
Love,
Pastor Gina
