Perfected By Grace

UV 1598/10000 Perfected By Grace
The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.
Psalm 138 v 8
There are many things, factors, relationship, issues in our lives that are far from perfect. Some of these we are not even aware of for we cannot see the beams in our own eyes. But the beams of the light of the Lord will light up the dark beams in our eyes or lives. He has complete knowledge of us, more than we ourselves. He is better equipped to work on us than we ourselves. He knows that there is a play out of all the books of scripture in our lives: we too have had our Genesis moment, Exodus moment, Leviticus (following rules) moment, moments of Psalms or praise, gospel moments and Revelation moments. He knows what we are running short of and where and when. He makes the oil of His grace to overflow in our periods of shortage.
He trains us from perilous heights to take flights of faith but is ready and vigilant like a mother eagle to catch us by the pinions and prevent us crash landing on the rocky cliff of life. He has made us and knows us, our limitations, our frailties and infirmities. He is patient with us and knows that there is a whole lifetime to work on us and with us. He accepts us as we are and makes that the starting point of His work with us. He increases the heat sometimes but makes sure that we are not destroyed but only refined further in the furnace of afflictions and trials. He walks with us closest when we are in that furnace and shields us. We experience the cool and comfort of His embrace with the intensity of the flames raging around us.

When we fail or fall, the Lord’s mercy covers up for us. He will help us to our feet again and encourage us with His promise never to leave us or forsake us. His mercy and grace outlasts all circumstances and situations in our lives. His mercy and grace enable us to withstand adversity and look with hope for the moment we will emerge from it strengthened and victorious. Though He knows we are imperfect, He never wants us to give up on the dream or goal of God-like perfection in character and life. This is the reason Jesus said, “ Be perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect.” Perfection is an ongoing lifetime project in which God is our partner, Jesus is our flesh and blood model and the Holy Spirit the Enabler and it is concluded or consummated in heaven. On our own it is an impossible goal or dream but with Jesus as our forerunner, perfection is realized for as long as we are “running” or aiming and striving for it, Jesus covers our flaws with His mercy and grace. Faith shields the eyes of the Lord from our flaws and we are perfected by grace. We are washed by mercy and perfected by grace. Our role is to yield to the Lord as He kneeds the clay of our lives and not resist or struggle with Him.
Prateep V Philip