As we begin our study today, I hope you will gain a new perspective and awareness of the magnitude of God and the role He desires to have in your life. We have such a small view of the world, I believe we have a difficult time comprehending how big God is! Eric

Before we get into His being the author and finisher of our faith, I’d like to start by looking at Psalm 139:13-18 (ESV), “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. 14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. 17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! 18 If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you.” The word ‘formed’ in verse 13 was translated from the Hebrew word qanah which in the Gesenius Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon means: to found, create, acquire of God as originating, creating, the word means: to possess or possessor. The Lord possesses us because He created us. Kilya, Hebrew for ‘inward parts’ is the seat of desires, emotions, and affections. ‘Knitted me’ is sakak and means: wove me and weave together.

God is your Creator. He formed or created even that part of you that has desires, emotions, and affections. He knitted you in your mother’s womb. He was totally involved in and is responsible for your being! He has a vested interest in you!

In verse 14 the word ‘fearfully,’ yare in the Hebrew means awe-inspiring. His creation of man was so awe inspiring that it caused astonishment and awe of Yahew Himself. I remember feeling that way at my first view of my sons when they were born! ‘Wonderfully,’ pala means: distinguish, separated, set apart, or distinct. You are one of a kind! Can you imagine? You are one of over eight billion people in the world and God Almighty uniquely wove each one, including you, in their mother’s womb! Astounding! Verse 16 reveals that God saw your substance (golem), a wrapped and unformed mass i.e. the embryo before it was developed. Then in verses 17 and 18, we discover that God’s thoughts of you are more that the number of grains of sand! Unimaginable!

According to the Oxford Dictionary, the word ‘unique’ means: being the only one of it’s kind, unlike anything else. Merriam Webster Dictionary reads that ‘unique’ means: being without a like or equal or able to be distinguished from all others of it’s class or type.

Minimalismmadesimple.com states that there are 15 main areas wherein each individual is unique. They are: Genetics (DNA), Physical characteristics (height, weight, eye and hair color, bone structure), Personality ( character, temperament and behavior), Attitude (way of thinking or feeling about people or things - pessimist, optimist, negative, positive), Perspective, Habits, Intellect, Goals, Experiences’ Relationships, Creative, Passion, Communication, Humor, and Taste. Our two sons came from the same parents, one is very quiet, while the other is not. Each is a uniquely gifted individual determined by God’s involvement in knowing what they needed to fulfill His purpose and plan for their lives.

As we’ve mentioned in previous blog posts, we all have a story. We all take a unique journey which forms us into who and what we are.

God is the Author Who created us with His purpose and plan in mind. Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”

Of course, we have a will (the power of control over one’s own actions or emotions) and we must choose to submit our will to the Lord’s will in order to live a blessed life. Deuteronomy 30:19 and 20 (ESV), “I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, 20 loving the LORD your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them." These verses let us know unequivocally that our will in involved. Also, we see that He encourages us to submit to His will by choosing life and blessing rather than death and curses.

2 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV), “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” This verse reveals that He works in our lives to transform each of us into His image.

2 Peter 1:3 and 4 (ESV), “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.” Praise God, His divine power has granted to you and I all the things necessary for us to become a partaker or sharer of His divine (godlike) nature. He provides the way for us to do and be everything He would require of us. Wow!

Colossians 3:10, (NKJV) “and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him.” Following our acceptance of Christ as Savior, we put on that ‘new man’ or new nature which we gain from learning to know our Creator and becoming like Him. Basically, ‘putting on’ is accomplished by choosing to live according to His will and way. We choose to respond to life situations in a way that pleases God. The phrase ‘in the image of His’, eikon in the Greek, means: the image of the Son of God into which true Christians are transformed not only to the heavenly body but also to the most holy and blessed state of mind, which Christ possesses.

For many though, the journey is hard because of their own lack of cooperation. Sadly, for some, it takes a lot of difficult experiences to arrive at the realization that God is the answer and that it is necessary to surrender their lives to Him and His will.

Our journey began with God’s beautiful creation of us in our mother’s womb, as we read in Psalm 139:13-18. Then, we learn that “when it pleased God,” He separated us from our mother’s womb. (Galatians 1:15)

2 Timothy 1:9 (ESV), “who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,”

For some, the choice to follow and submit to God’s will is easy. Yet, there are those who refuse and find themselves failing over and over again. The good news is that God is faithful to continue drawing and keeping us, and sending others to help us. Philippians 1:6 (NKJV), “being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” The phrase ‘will complete’ was translated from the Greek word, ‘epitleo’ which means: to bring to an end, accomplish, perfect, and execute. God will keep working with us and in us to complete that good work He has begun in us.

Our journey is compared to a race, as we read in Hebrews 12:1 and 2 (NKJV), “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” In verse 1, the word ‘endurance;’ hupomone in the Greek, means: constancy, perseverance, bearing us, holding out, and patient endurance. “It is the capacity to continue to bear up under difficult circumstances, not with a passive complacency, but with a hopeful fortitude that actively resists weakness and defeat.” quoted from Word Wealth in the New Spirit Filled Life Bible. Verse 2 begins with “Looking” (aphorao) which means: to turn the eyes away from other things and fix them on something. The word ‘author’ was translated from the word archegos, Meaning: one that takes the lead in anything and thus affords an example; a predecessor in a matter. ‘Finisher’ from teleiotes, means: one who has in his own person raised faith to its perfection and so set before us the highest example of faith. This reference has the only use of this word in the Scriptures. There is no other example we should seek to follow! He was the only perfect man (without sin) that has ever been here on the planet. The word faith, from pistis, is the conviction that God exists and is the Creator and Ruler of all things, the provider of eternal salvation through Christ.

Praise God. this is an awesome Scripture! Fix your eyes on Jesus. He is the best and only example we have of a person living a life of faith with perfection.

Then we see the reward! Hebrews 10:35 and 36, “So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! 36 Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God's will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.” After we have confidently endured and done the will of God, (lived a life of faith) we will receive the promised good or blessing of the Lord!

Please understand, difficult times will be a part of our journey. However, we do not endure the trials and struggles without them fulfilling a purpose. James 1:2-4 (CSB), ”Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.” Working through those trials and difficulties with the Lord’s help, will produce something positive in you. The word endurance in James 1:3 (hupomone) means steadfastness, constancy and in the NT represents the characteristic of a man who is not swerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings. (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance).

Along with experiencing time of testing, we will also face times when God disciplines us as referenced in Hebrews 12:5-11, “And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said, "My child, don't make light of the LORD's discipline, and don't give up when he corrects you. 6 For the LORD disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child." 7 As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? 8 If God doesn't discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all. 9 Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn't we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever? 10 For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God's discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. 11 No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening--it's painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.”

I have one last admonition and exhortation for you today. Be careful to not judge others in their journey, for only God knows the heart. It is very easy for us to judge, however, we have to remember that God is working in each person’s life as is necessary. God is working in other’s lives just as He is working in yours and mine!

We are to love, help, and encourage others as we can. Pray for them and allow God to work in them as only He can. James 4:12, “God alone, who gave the law, is the Judge. He alone has the power to save or to destroy. So what right do you have to judge your neighbor?”

Romans 14:3 and 4, “Those who feel free to eat anything must not look down on those who don't. And those who don't eat certain foods must not condemn those who do, for God has accepted them. 4 Who are you to condemn someone else's servants? Their own master will judge whether they stand or fall. And with the Lord's help, they will stand and receive his approval.”

God is working in you to conform you to His image. We were created to be like Him. He has provided the way for that goal to be accomplished in us.

God created you according to His purpose and plan for you. He is totally knowledgeable of your gifts, talents, character, DNA, and strengths. He created you and gave you those things. As your Creator, He is intimately aware of everything about you.

Follow His example of a life of faith!

He alone is the author and finisher of our faith!

Let your journey be one of gaining day by day that which He created you to be.

Do not strive for anything less than His best!

Unless otherwise noted all scriptures are taken from the New Living Translation.

ESV English Standard Version

NKJV New King James Version