Sunday, May 18, 2014

Not Finished With You

                                                                                           Author Unknown To Me
There are believers who see themselves as incomplete because they are conscious of their lack and imperfections. They say, “There are so many things imperfect about me! How can I be complete if there are so many things I am lacking in?” They see their weaknesses, condemn themselves and feel inferior to others. The good news is that God does not see the way man sees. Man sees the flesh. God sees the spirit. He sees us already complete in Christ. In spite of our imperfections, He sees us as new creations, partakers of His divine nature and more than conquerors over our faults. And He wants us to see ourselves the way He sees us. What we think we need or are lacking in, whether it is Godly character traits or physical health, we already have in Christ.  Now God in all his wisdom says, I'm not finished with you yet.
 
I wish my testimony was one of unwavering faith and steadiness. I wish that you could go and talk to anyone I went to school with and they would tell you about my commitment to Jesus and His Word, but they’ve seen me fall to sin and act prideful. In fact, I’d wager that many of us are this way. We wish that we could have another chance at past situations or seasons. But here's God’s answer to our self-disappointment: “I’m not done with you yet.”  Paul’s words, I’m not finished, He’s still making me! I’m still being molded and shaped and conformed to Jesus’ likeness (Romans 8:29). And so are we. God’s not done with us, we’re still being drawn and invited into relationship with Him. Jesus served us first, and from that place  of being served by Him, we can serve him and His Church. What God did for me was turn my focus from myself and toward Jesus. This may seem simple, but it is a monumental gift of change and transformation.
 
When our hearts are focused on Jesus we see his servanthood and selflessness, we see His love for the Church, we see the image to which we’re being conformed. This changes us because we join Jesus in His mission and work on the earth. This is the context in which this molding, shaping and transforming takes place. No matter where we’ve fallen or cracked, our Maker has a grand design and intention for us that is not yet complete. Rest in hope and turn your focus upward and outward. Let our Heavenly Father change our narrow scope from simply today, to that of eternity.
 
Have A Blessed Sunday,
Richard

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