Remember: the drawing for the book, Sober Mercies, by Heather Kopp, is this Saturday. Just leave a comment on my blog. (Pssttt: not very many people have put their name in…so you have a good opportunity to be chosen!)
Before I took the opportunity to highlight Sober Mercies, I was covering the theme of “little by little.” Let’s look at another significant verse along those lines, Hebrews 10:14:
“For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy” (NIV).
The two verbs in that verse are very significant. Do you see them:
“has made perfect” and “being made holy”? What does that tell us?
We see two dynamics of “little by little” and “being in Christ” in this verse. On the one hand, “has made perfect” refers to who we are “in Christ.” Because we are saved by Jesus’s death on the cross, we are secure in our salvation and considered “perfect” by God. He sees us wrapped in Jesus’s robe of righteousness at the moment of salvation and nothing can separate us from that “position.” There’s nothing that we need do to make our salvation more “complete.”
On the other hand, we are “being made holy.” See the process there of “little by little”? The verb “being” refers to something continuing and not completed. I’m being sanctified after I’ve already been saved. The salvation is secure even as the sanctification is continuing. They exist side by side.
This should give us lots of comfort and confidence. We don’t need to strive for salvation and we can be patient during sanctification. The “being made holy” will continue until the moment we die. It’s ongoing and will never end while we’re on this earth. Only in heaven, will we live perfectly.
Some friends of mine have a saying: “we’re not in the Garden anymore,” meaning that we’re not living where it’s possible to be perfect like it was in the Garden of Eden. We get frustrated with ourselves and condemn ourselves because we think we’re supposed to be living back in the Garden. But that’s never going to happen. And God is patient with us. Remember Philippians 1:6?
So, where are you standing now about “little by little.” Is it still too hard to believe God is patient with us being “in process”? I hope these posts have made a difference and given you peace.
(Photo courtesy of “twobee” at www.freedigitalphotos.net)
This is a great word for someone who is always trying to please……. Thanks Kathy!
Thank you, Dana, for commenting. Yes, I can see that application. Do you also want to be put into the drawing for Sober Mercies?
I would LOVE to be put on that list!!!!!
OK, you're on it, Dana!
Hello my friend! Sometimes Little by Little feels like forever, but it is so good to know that Little by Little means progress, too.
Much love to you, thank you for all you do for me–your words encourage me so!
Shelly, so glad this was a taste of encouragement. I'm so proud of you for the progress you're making and your teachable heart. Keep going! 1{f65765d44da0bdf0a41fa9961eb42045133d946bf3cc534fe1ab1c919c81bf77} at a time! Love you too!
Hello. I followed a link from a post about letting Perfection go. This post really spoke to me. Thank you so much.
I am now following your blog.
Hello Amy, I'm thrilled to know you dropped by my blog. I'm so pleased to know it was meaningful for you. I hope my posts continue to bless you. Yes, perfectionism is a struggle for most of us. I wrote a book about dealing with it and I'm still a recovering Perfectionist! So take heart. We are all being transformed. God bless you. Thanks for following me!