A hefty dose of encouragement …

Years ago, I began to be more focused when sharing the Gospel with non-Christians to emphasize that God’s transforming work in our lives is something He performs throughout our entire lifetime.

I heightened that emphasis because I think we often expect God to complete our transformation in its entirety upon on our conversion so that we can then go about living a cushy, comfortable “life of favor.”

Boy, it really doesn’t work that way!

To the contrary, it doesn’t take long to begin to wonder when God is going to “get around” to more of that transforming work in us as we see for ourselves an ongoing need for God to change us. We’re not very good about being patient, a fact highlighted in this news tidbit reported by the Associated Press …

In February 2009, a 27-year-old woman from Fort Pierce, Florida, walked into a McDonald’s restaurant and ordered a 10-piece McNuggets meal. The McDonald’s employee, after taking the order, then discovered that they were out of McNuggets. The employee told the customer that the restaurant had run out of McNuggets, and she would have to get something else from the menu.

The customer then became irate, took out her cell phone and called 911 to complain. The 911 workers, who were less than helpful, received a total of three calls for help from the disgruntled customer! Instead of McNuggets, all the angry woman got for her complaints was a ticket from police for misusing 911.

We’re impatient and demanding, and sometimes we can be that way with God when we think He’s forgotten us or has given up on our transformation.

He hasn’t forgotten, and He’s not done yet!

The Apostle Paul offers this dollop of encouragement for us:

“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns,” Philippians 1:6.

God is taking the span of our lifetimes to accomplish in us the great work He has started, so rest assured He will finish what He has begun!

And when you see His finished work, you’ll have an eternity to praise Him for it!

Scotty