Purpose is a journey
“Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Christ Jesus," Phil. 1:6.
To the committed and patient,
Purpose is not a destination as much as it is a journey. At least on this earth, there will always be room to grow more into the image and stature of Christ. We cannot accelerate the process without ultimately causing harm down the road. When we move forward by promoting, providing for and protecting ourselves, we build our lives upon a weakened foundational structure that will not be able to withstand the pressure of success and failure down the road.
On the other hand, it is very possible to do things that impede the Holy Spirit’s building process in our lives. There are a number of things that we can do or fail to do that force the same tests upon us again and again.
Rather than working to complete the good work that Christ has begun in our lives, we must learn to submit to Him. He is the Author and the Finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). He promises to finish the good work that He has begun.
Our responsibility is to receive the correct marks for each test that we are given. We should score low in the areas of pride and self-preservation and high in the arenas of faith, hope and love. For better and for worse, we must embrace His faithful character. All things truly do work together for good when we love God and are called according to His purpose for our lives in Christ, Jesus (Romans 8:28).
Until God graces me to share again,
Randall Paul Pipes
| |
