God Perfecting Us

Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
(Heb 13:21)

Lately I have been pondering over my personal reading into ‘The Normal Christian Life’ (the portion on Romans 8) by Watchman Nee and recently Ps Susan’s Tang sharing in our little house church about God working in us. I realized that many of us are so keen to display our Christianity through many means. Of my years of service in the worship ministry, many either volunteered themselves or even been volunteered to ‘help’ out in the ministry. Many of whom were new believers not even firmly grounded in their new found faith. Does God promote volunteerism with show of such zeal? Yes, we are to be God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works (Eph 2:10). Yes, it is God’s divine will that we have been ordained to do so. Is the practice of Christianity today producing ‘cookie cutter’ servants?

“You did not do anything to achieve your salvation, but you must do something to exhibit it. You must "work out your own salvation" which God has worked in you already (Philippians 2:12). Are your speech, your thinking, and your emotions evidence that you are working it "out"? If you are still the same miserable, grouchy person, set on having your own way, then it is a lie to say that God has saved and sanctified you.” – Oswald Chambers

Paul tells us that we are God’s workmanship or handiwork. We are to be products of God’s work that produces vessels of honor (2 Tim 2:20) made of ‘gold’ not of ‘wood’.

The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.
(Pro 17:3)

God’s vessels have to be purified and heart must be tested. Why else God chose David over Saul, for the former had his heart tried by fire to be proven to be a man after God’s own heart. Here we are trying to help God in churning out workers for Him with the Saul nature who concern themselves more with their own water face than God’s honor. David knew it was only God and God Himself and sought His face even with the conviction of sin (Psa 51). Where as Saul didn’t get replies from God and ended up in blatant disobedience in offering the sacrifice (only allowed by prophets and priests) and worst, consulting a medium. Resorting to our own mean is a sure sign that our heart has not been tried.

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
(Eph 3:20)

God wants to work in us! The Ephesians church did works derived from self which led to their losing their first love (Rev 2:1-11). They probably loved their works more than God for self is exalted, not God. Jesus said that if He be lifted up (John 12:32), He will do the drawing of men into His church. Not by means of music, magic shows, entertainment or even what we term as ‘good deeds’ or ‘seeker friendly’. It is the crucified Christ that is the mark of the church that will draw people. We who are no greater than our Master have to live the reality of the cross too. We are what we believe. There is a power of God working in us, not just men’s idea or interpretation of Scripture. Truth needs to be worked into us.

According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
(Eph 1:4)

The power that God works in us is unto perfection or completeness according to His will. Heb 13:21 has lost the Greek meaning ‘to do His will, working in you’. It meant rather that God is continually doing it in us His good work unto completeness. Completeness in that we should be holy and without blame. The truth is that God’s aspiration in our salvation is that we be made holy and blameless not just to make it to heaven. If we are made holy and blameless than there isn’t any thing the accuser of the brethren can point the finger at. Not just at us but also at God (remember the incident of the devil questioning God on Job’s uprightness). To be holy means that we are wholly His, qualifying us to live in the place of His pleasing (fully acceptable) and that Christ be glorified forever.

Don’t rush ourselves and don’t rush God. David spent his time in the wilderness to be completed to do God’s plan. So was Paul in the Arabia. Jesus stayed 30 years hidden from man’s eyes and heavens open at His baptism. Keep our eyes on the end, let God work out the means as we submit wholly to Him.