You Are Not The Finished Article
by Malcolm Wood
While recently looking through care home literature I came across the above statement, which is really another way of saying something which these days we seem to hear quite regularly that 'I am a work in progress'.
Too often perhaps we use the fact that we are struggling with what God is doing in our lives as an excuse for our behaviour. In fact it may be a reason why we respond or react in a negative way but is it really an excuse? According to the apostle Paul we Christians who 'contemplate the Lords glory are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory'.(2 Cor 3:18). As I understand it, this is a work which commences at the moment we acknowledge Jesus as Saviour and submit to his Lordship of our lives and is only completed when we meet him face to face. Until that day the Lord is working on us, in us and through us making us more like Himself.
I can't help but think that, with me at least, the Lord has quite a job on his hands! I take comfort in the assurances from scripture that nothing is too difficult for God and also from the verse at the top of the page which says that he will complete the work he has started. As the Lord prepares us for an eternity with him I sometimes wonder how difficult our unwillingness to surrender to his way, word and will makes it for him and us? It's at these times of struggle that we make it harder for ourselves and are more likely to behave in a ungodly way. It is then that we may try to excuse ourselves with 'I am a work in progress'. The fact is that we are all under the hand of God in that respect, none of us yet being the finished article!.
When work is carried out in the street or in a house a lot is done (or should be) to make the site and surrounding area safe for those doing the work and for those passing by. When we are aware that the Lord is dealing with an issue in our lives and we are struggling with it and it hurts then perhaps rather than speaking or lashing out hurting and endangering others in the process, we ought to ask the Lord for his grace and the power and protection of His Spirit to help us handle the situation in a Godly way. This would indeed be another positive step along the road of transformation that we are all on.
Prayer: "All to Jesus I surrender, make me Saviour, wholly thine; let me feel the Holy Spirit,truly know that Thou art mine. Amen."
Malcolm Wood and his wife Anna became part of the Ellel family as House Managers at Ellel Grange in 1990. Since then they have been involved with many aspects of the developing Ministry. From 2001 until 2015 they were Directors of Ellel Scotland where they hosted several International Schools and Operation Blairmore and helped pioneer the exciting Creative Inspiration Weeks. They have three sons.
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