Complete, but not Finished

Appalachia Service Project is excited to announce our theme for the upcoming service year: Complete, but not Finished.

It is based on Philippians 1:6 (NIrV), “I am sure that the One who began a good work in you will carry it on until it is completed. That will be on the day Christ Jesus returns.”

This simple but very powerful verse reminds us of several important things:

• God is at work in every one of us.

• The work God does in us is good.

• God’s good work in us will not be left undone.

• Our growing and refining continues during our entire earthly existence.

• Jesus is coming again.

• We can be absolutely certain of all these things.

Going all the way back to the first chapter of Genesis, we read that we were created in God’s image and God declared that we are “very good.” Some days, we don’t feel very good, though. Some days, we feel anything but. Maybe we’re dealing with the fallout of a mistake, or second guessing ourselves because we failed at a task, or mourning a broken relationship. Here’s the good news from our theme verse: none of that defines us; none of that diminishes the potential within us; none of that thwarts God’s good work in us.

Each of us is a work in progress. God isn’t finished with us yet, but God’s work will not be denied. Therefore, we can be sure of becoming everything God intends us to be. With God, we are complete—but, for the time being, anyway, we’re not finished.

Neal Bowes, Director of Spiritual Programming