Do Not Forsake The Works Of Your Hands

Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch out Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and Your right hand will save me.

The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever; do not forsake the works of Your hands.

Psalm 138:7-8

…and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Ephesians 2:6-10

God looks at you and I as blocks of rough wood. He envisions the Christlike woman or man hidden beneath the bark, knots, and twigs and begins to carve everything that does not fit that image. We would be amazed if we could see how beautiful we are as finished pieces.

First we must accept that we are a block of wood and allow the Artist to cut, shape, and sand us where He will. This means viewing our circumstances – pleasant or unpleasant as God’s tools shape us. He forms us, one part at a time, into the beautiful creature He envisioned when we were lumps of wood.

Sometimes the process is wonderful; sometimes it is painful. But in the end, all of God’s tools conform us “to the image of his Son.”

Do you long for that likeness? Put yourself in the Master Carver’s hands.

Growing in Christ comes from a deepening relationship with Him.

Our Daily Bread – September 2, 2016