“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)
This past year we finished painting our house. We did most of it ourselves. Scaffolding was up for months. I am sure our neighbors wondered if we would ever be done. Then finally, the day came. Wow the house looked amazing. Thanks to the pearly white that we choose it literally glows as the sun shines on it. Let me just say, it was worth the many months that it took us to finish, though if we ever have to paint it again I hope we can pay someone to do it! But, just recently, I noticed the windows outside my office looked strange. By that, they were turning green! After a closer look, the paint was clipping and the wood itself was showing. It did not look good! We realized that though it had looked finished, we had actually missed painting these windows with actual coats of paint. We had used a primer, and initially it looked like the real thing, until it came under the pressure of the outside elements.
Likewise, God is not done with us! It is a lifelong project that He has taken on with each of us. He is not fussed, but unlike us, He does not miss sections. While we can try to hide unfinished and rough parts of our lives, He knows exactly where they are. Yes, He who began a good and beautiful work in us will not stop until we are with Him, face to face!!!
Thank Him for being so thorough, and relentlessly never ceasing. Ask Him to show you where He wants you to be involved, any places where you have been hesitant to finish what He started. Ask Him for grace to be ruthless with sin and rough areas in your heart. Ask Him to grant you patience as He masterfully does His work in the hidden, and perhaps not so hidden places. Pray for your pastor to know that same relentless work of God in his life as well. God knows where we need that extra coat of pearly white paint. Ask God to release that same grace throughout your church and across our city and nation!
