Ephesians 2:10 - “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.” (NLT)
Philippians 1:6 - “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.” (NLT)
For sure God is not finished with me, and for that I am thankful since I really don’t want to be left where I am. He has done great things in me helping me overcome temptation and frustration, and although I've not arrived, I'm thankful that He is at work within me.
I’ve seen God working in me as I realized that I was believing a lie. I always wondered why He would love me when I couldn’t seem to break free of sin. I’d be great for a while yet I’d fall back into it. Sounds like Paul in Romans 7. I felt like someone who didn’t deserve God’s love unless I met some standard (performance based). I knew in my head and heart that I had asked for forgiveness but why did I keep having problems with it? Why couldn’t I break free? Anger was one area I needed His help with. And yes, He has provided me with progress in this area.
For the past several years, my story is one of change. Job changes, family changes (moves), new relationships (son’s in law), ministry changes, and personal changes. Change can be good and in my case I believe it was. Job changes increased my exposure to different parts of the business. Family moves meant I got to see a different part of the country. New relationships meant we had new family members! Ministry changes meant coming to GENESIS and having God work on me more instead of me being stuck. Personal changes were a result of God working, but He’s not done yet.
The Romans series was good for me last spring as I gained a new appreciation for God’s love for me. I felt that I was learning from Paul’s life more specifically as we studied Romans. I was seeing it in a fresh way and it felt new and revitalizing.
So I’ve realized that a masterpiece takes time to develop and complete. It is not completed with the conception of the idea or even with putting pen/brush to the canvas. Just like a Christian isn’t complete when they accept Jesus as their Savior and Lord, it is a process that God works on us. A piece of clay can be turned into a great vessel when heat is applied. Without the heat, there is no tempering. God’s workmanship (other translation of Ephesians 2:10) is clearly something that only He can perform. Only He knows what we need and He will teach us all that He wants us to know so we can lead a life that is pleasing to Him. A sweet aroma, one that is worshipful as we live our lives daily.
God has plans for me, I am sure of that! What they are next year or later I don’t know, but I’m walking this road of faith one step at a time as I wait for Him to show me the plans He has for me from long ago. Why am I so confident of that? Because I have a testimony of His leading in ways I would never expect and having provided in so many areas during my life. I can look back on those tests and see how God brought me through them. I have confidence that He knows what is best for me regardless of what I see since I can’t see the entire masterpiece that is God’s story. I do know He cares and loves me and for that I will be forever grateful! It's not always easy, but I'm thankful to know that He's not finished with me yet.
