Under construction

“No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit” (1 John 4:12-13 NIV).

I’m a project guy. I love dreaming up, planning, and implementing a project, seeing it come to life… and completion. I especially love it when I finish something and finish it well.

Strangely enough, that’s why I don’t mind mowing the yard. Even though its a weekly kind of maintenance, I still love doing it because I can immediately see what I’ve done. I enjoy the result. And I love showing the result of my labors to others.

“Hey Robin, did you notice the yard when you came in?” I ask my wife, while sticking out my chest.

“Yes, Honey, it looks great. Definitely the best looking lawn on the street!” She responds with wifely appreciation.

I wish I could see the results of following Christ and making disciples as readily. I labor and work and sometimes I can’t tell if anything is being accomplished. In fact, some days it appears we may have lost ground.

But I’m learning. I’m learning that it’s not my job to finish, it’s God’s. It’s His Spirit that is at work in me and in the flock that I pastor. God is doing a work in us and He will bring it to completion.

So, if it’s God’s job to finish the “Gary” project, then what’s my part?

I must yield and let Him work. I must yield every area of my life to His control, surrendering and submitting all to HIm. Asking HIm to mold and make me after His will.

Completion. In the Greek, it’s the word teleios, which could be translated perfected, finished, having reached the goal. I’m glad God is in charge of this. He is working in us to make us like His Son.

Until then, we’re under construction.