Under Construction

1 Corinthians 3:10-11 – Each one should be careful how he builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. (NIV)

Philippians 1:6 – Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (NIV)

We're renovating our summer cottage. It's been interesting and exciting to watch the plans unfold, one step at a time. As I watched the work progress, I couldn't help thinking how much our lives are under construction. God created us. God knit us together in our mothers' wombs. God loves us. But, as Max Lucado says in his book Just Like Jesus, "God loves you the way you are but He refuses to leave you that way. He wants you to be Just Like Jesus."

God is at work in our lives, moulding us into the image of His Son Jesus. Just as we've followed a plan for our renovating, God has a plan for each of our lives. In our renovations, first we added a new entranceway, then the walls went up and then the roof, but everything was added to the original foundation. Jesus Christ is the foundation for our lives. The more God's plan unfolds in our lives, the more we become like Jesus. It doesn't happen overnight. It is a slow but steady process, a lifelong process. Through the power of the Holy Spirit we are given the strength to change, to become the people God created us to be. We don't have to be perfect, just willing to let God change us.

Truly we are under construction. I once read a bumper sticker that said, "Be patient: God isn't finished with me yet."

May the words of today's music encourage us on our faith journey today:

Change my heart, O God, make it ever true.
Change my heart, God, may I be like You.
You are the potter, I am the clay;
Mold me and make me — this is what I pray.
Change my heart, O God, make it ever true.
Change my heart, O God, may I be like You.

Prayer: Gracious God, we are so grateful that You love us and that You have a plan for each of our lives. Help us to hear Your voice and to respond so that we may become more and more like Your Son, Jesus. Continue to work in our lives as daily we seek Your will. Amen.