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TO CHEW ON: "The Lord will perfect that which concerns me." Psalm 138:8
If you thought of your life as a story, does it sometimes seem to you that the plotter could use some help giving it a better arc? In other words, do you feel disappointed with your progress and growth, as if you're encountering the same issues and problems over and over and not getting any better at dealing with them? You ask, haven't I learned anything? Why does it seem I'm not getting any better in the things that count—the Kingdom of God matters, the becoming-more-like-Jesus goal?
Our chosen verse today answers that. The word "perfect" (the verb) is key.
["Perfect (gamar) means to end, accomplish, perfect, come to an end, cease, perform fulfill… Twice (in the OT) it refers to completing, finishing, and perfecting of God's work in one's life - Psalm 57:2 and here. These two references are the OT parallels to Philippians 1:6" - Dick Mills, Word Wealth, New Spirit-Filled Life Bible, p. 792.]
I like how Psalm 57:2 puts the focus on what we do along the way:
"I will cry to God Most High, Who performs on my behalf and rewards me—Who brings to pass [His purposes] for me and surely completes them!" - AMP (emphasis added).
Philippians 1:6 is Paul's confident belief in God's ability to accomplish this:
"And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ—right up to the time of His return—developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you" - AMP (emphasis added).
Whether we appear to be making progress or not, whether the story arc of our lives looks to be going somewhere or not, we can be sure that God knows what He is doing and is working even in our detours and double-backs. Whenever and however we can, let's cooperate with Him.
PRAYER: Dear Father thank You for this promise of a completed life work for me. Help me to daily live in sync with You. Amen.
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Unless otherwise noted all Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked AMP are taken from the Amplified® Bible, copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission." (www.Lockman.org)
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