We must realize that our picture is not finished yet. Some spots still need work. Yes, we're all a painting in the making. We're not yet the picture God sees in us. In some spots sin still has a hold on us and this messes up the whole picture.
Our original picture is not close to what God had in mind. Like a naughty child who kicks and screams to get away from his mother and wants to run across a dangerous road, we continually pull away in the opposite direction from where God wants us to go.
Fortunately, God never lets go so that we can't run around on or own on the dangerous playground. 13Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God. That energy is God's energy, an energy deep within you, God himself willing and working at what will give him the most pleasure.
God sees the real picture. He knows exactly what we should look like and He knows how we should reach that. That is why He works inside us. He uses the ordinary things that come our way to shape us, to prepare us and to get us ready for what He wants to do through us one day.
Actually, it's wonderful to know that God loves each of us so much that He would never let us go. He doesn't want us to miss our calling because our picture never got done.
Often we find ourselves in situations where we just want to get out. Like naughty children we throw our toys out of the cot. We get angry. Sometimes we even shout at God. Our sentences end in question marks, one after the other. We don't understand. We don't understand why we continuously have to walk this road full of potholes.
No, I don't always have the answer either. I don't know why we have to put up with illness and death and bankruptcy and pain and broken relationships and hate and loneliness and hurt and broken hearts and disappointment and all those bad things.
But I do know that God uses the life issues we struggle with to shape us. He uses those hard things to finish painting our picture. Over the grey spots he paints colourful flowers for all to see.
This picture of God with the brush in his hand finishing my painting is very nice, but what does it really mean? I think sin makes me want to put myself first. I live constantly looking for what I can get out of life. That self-centeredness and the grey spots in God's painting of me.
During hardship I become aware of the suffering of others. My eyes open to the need of others. I am no longer at the centre. And this is where God's picture with flowers comes in. I start doing what I was put on earth to do - to help others. This is where God starts being pleased - not only because my picture is taking shape, but because I'm doing his will.
What a message of comfort. God works with us. God is always busy working in us. Through the good times, but also through the bad times, God is busy with our picture.
May we live a life that satisfies God so that our picture can give Him joy. May we always remember that God is busy with our painting in the making. He will never leave us. Thank you!
Bible Reading
Philippians 2:12-17
Reflection
What does your picture look like?
Can you see God's hand?
Do you see those around you?
Prayer
Our Father in heaven, thank you for not staying there. Thank you for being here on earth now, here inside us, painting with us. Please help us to remember in hard times that You are with us and uses it to shape us. Amen
For more information go to http://www.crossroad247.com
By Gerjo Ben Van Der Merwe
Article Source: Painting in the Making
Our original picture is not close to what God had in mind. Like a naughty child who kicks and screams to get away from his mother and wants to run across a dangerous road, we continually pull away in the opposite direction from where God wants us to go.
Fortunately, God never lets go so that we can't run around on or own on the dangerous playground. 13Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God. That energy is God's energy, an energy deep within you, God himself willing and working at what will give him the most pleasure.
God sees the real picture. He knows exactly what we should look like and He knows how we should reach that. That is why He works inside us. He uses the ordinary things that come our way to shape us, to prepare us and to get us ready for what He wants to do through us one day.
Actually, it's wonderful to know that God loves each of us so much that He would never let us go. He doesn't want us to miss our calling because our picture never got done.
Often we find ourselves in situations where we just want to get out. Like naughty children we throw our toys out of the cot. We get angry. Sometimes we even shout at God. Our sentences end in question marks, one after the other. We don't understand. We don't understand why we continuously have to walk this road full of potholes.
No, I don't always have the answer either. I don't know why we have to put up with illness and death and bankruptcy and pain and broken relationships and hate and loneliness and hurt and broken hearts and disappointment and all those bad things.
But I do know that God uses the life issues we struggle with to shape us. He uses those hard things to finish painting our picture. Over the grey spots he paints colourful flowers for all to see.
This picture of God with the brush in his hand finishing my painting is very nice, but what does it really mean? I think sin makes me want to put myself first. I live constantly looking for what I can get out of life. That self-centeredness and the grey spots in God's painting of me.
During hardship I become aware of the suffering of others. My eyes open to the need of others. I am no longer at the centre. And this is where God's picture with flowers comes in. I start doing what I was put on earth to do - to help others. This is where God starts being pleased - not only because my picture is taking shape, but because I'm doing his will.
What a message of comfort. God works with us. God is always busy working in us. Through the good times, but also through the bad times, God is busy with our picture.
May we live a life that satisfies God so that our picture can give Him joy. May we always remember that God is busy with our painting in the making. He will never leave us. Thank you!
Bible Reading
Philippians 2:12-17
Reflection
What does your picture look like?
Can you see God's hand?
Do you see those around you?
Prayer
Our Father in heaven, thank you for not staying there. Thank you for being here on earth now, here inside us, painting with us. Please help us to remember in hard times that You are with us and uses it to shape us. Amen
For more information go to http://www.crossroad247.com
By Gerjo Ben Van Der Merwe
Article Source: Painting in the Making
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