Trading Spaces - The Renovation

Trading Spaces - The Renovation
by Ed Young



Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling for it is
God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.
Philippians 2:12-13

We work out what by God's grace and mercy has been worked in at the
time of our salvation. We develop what's been delivered to us through
the person and work of Christ. We build on what has been bought by
His blood. Look at that phrase, "work out." In the original language
it means "work to full completion"...to develop what one already
has...to finish a project. So, what does life change look like? What
does the renovation of a heart look like? In short, it looks like
work. But it is a different type of work.

This whole process of spiritual renovation starts when we resign and
God designs. What if you gave two sets of plans to a builder? That
would be chaotic. Yet, a lot of us have a vice grip on our plans and
we say, "I know how to design my life. I know how to run my life. I
know how to do my marriage, my job, and this or that. Yes, God, I see
your plans on the table but I'm going to do what I want to do." God
simply says, "Let go of the vice grip that you have on your plans.
Let go. Resign as the designer and let me design your life, because I
am The Master Designer. Resign. Fire yourself. You are incapable of
knowing your plans. You're incapable of designing your life by
yourself."

Once we resign and let him design, he brings swatches of fabric into
your life and mine. He says, "Here's a swatch for your relationships.
Here's a swatch for your future. Here's a swatch for your
occupation." When he shows it to us, oftentimes we think, "I can't
take that. That's not my color. I don't understand that. I don't
see that." But we have got to realize that God sees the whole context
of the room, the whole context of our lives. He sees the final result
and we have got to trust him. When we let the Designer design our
lives "according to his good purpose," we will stand amazed at the end
result of our sanctification, the complete and perfect renovation of
our hearts by the power of God's Spirit.