We are a MESSY work in progress!
Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
I have had an exciting relationship with Jesus for over 30 years but from the day I surrendered my life to him I’ve been learning, growing—taking a few steps backwards for every step forward in terms of healing and a pursuit of holiness.
I am continuing to learn and understand daily. I still have selfish fights with my husband, mess up things with my kids, and fail in ministry.
Even with “all in” faith, life is messy. And the messy can be sometimes tough to clean up.
Have you ever spilled pancake batter or worse, paint – yuck! The cleanup is basically impossible.
I remember a family vacation in the mountains. My family had all settled into our adorable cabin after a great dinner and were about to play a game, when I loaded the dishwasher but couldn’t find the dishwasher detergent. So instead, I just squirted a little bit of liquid soap into the dispenser. A few minutes later, I looked up from the living room only to see a mountain of suds as high as the door frames coming towards us. Talk about messy! It took hours to clean that slippery stuff up.
In our own disappointment, in our growth, we must be careful that we are not attempting to substitute dishwasher detergent for liquid soap.
We are often tempted to substitute the rebirth, restoration, and renewal process that comes only through God‘s Word. Sometimes even with good things, like church attendance or maybe acts of service or offering, we try to do good, but we simply end up messier than ever.
I hope you will join me for this weeks Permission to Pause Podcast Episode #7 to consider the handiwork that God has going on in our lives. Where is God working in your life today?
Dear Jesus, thank you that I am your handiwork. You never give up on me Lord you are always leading, guiding, teaching, and correcting me. You are the master of cleaning me up and leading me on. Show me Lord where you are working on me today and how I can join you. Amen.