Have you ever started a project and not finished it? Have you ever had a goal to finish something and not followed through with it? Whether it is cleaning out a closet, reading a new book, or learning a new musical instrument, we all have had “projects” we wanted to complete but, unfortunately, failed to do so. According to Psalms, God has a few “projects” of His own that He is working on, also. However, unlike frail humanity, God WILL finish what He starts.
Psalm 138:8 says, The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands. The word “perfect” in this verse does not mean “sinless;” but rather, it means He will complete the things that concern us. This reminded me of another verse in the New Testament. Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, wrote in Philippians 1:6, Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: This book of the Bible was written from a jail cell, yet Paul knew that God was not finished with him. The same is true of you and me, my friend. God is still working on us! The trials, heartaches, and burdens we face are part of the “perfecting” that God is trying to accomplish in us and through us.
When I read this verse in Psalms, it reminded me of the children’s song “He’s Still Workin’ On Me:”
There really ought to be a sign upon my heart
“Don’t judge him yet; There’s an unfinished part.”
But I’ll be perfect just according to His plan
Fashioned by the Master’s loving hand,
The mirror of His Word, reflections that I see
Make me wonder why He never gave up on me.
But He loves me as I am and helps me when I pray.
Remember He’s the Potter; I’m the clay.
He’s still working on me to make me what I ought to be.
It took Him just a week to make the moon and stars,
The sun and the earth and Jupiter and Mars.
How loving and patient He must be;
He’s still workin’ on me!
– By Joel Hemphill
Let us not be discouraged when we see ourselves as incomplete vessels, for that is exactly what we are. In addition, we ought to realize that we are a “work in progress” and must strive more and more every day to be like Christ. This song was written primarily for children, but it applies to all of us. He IS still working on me!
by Erin Montgomery
