god's plans for you aren't about you

One of the beauties of Christ that I often forget is His persistence and steadfastness and action in my life. Here's what I read the other day:

Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You preserve my life;

You stretch out Your hand against the wrath of my enemies,

And Your right hand delivers me.

The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me;

Your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever.

Do not forsake the work of Your hands.

Psalm 138:7-8

That is crazy! To think that the God who sits in heaven and does as He pleases would take a personal interest in my life-enough to preserve it and deliver it-is astounding. But then to read the last part and understand that God saves my life, because He has a plan for it, and that His plan will come to pass, is so glorious!

It's so glorious because it's ALL about JESUS! The hope of God remembering the plans He has for man is fulfilled in Christ. All of God's business is about His Son. His plans for you and me are centered around His plans for Christ. All the purposes He has for us are summed, and completed and lead up to the glorious return of Christ:

I am sure of this: that He who began a good work in you

will bring it to completion at the day of Christ.

Philippians 1:6

God is using every moment of every day to do "good work." Though the work may seem painful, unpleasant, dirty, or just boring, it is good! And that work will be finished at the final, ultimate exaltation of Christ.

As I'm pondering these things, I'm overwhelmed at how Christ-centered God is! He acts in us to magnify Christ. He began a good work in us so that Christ might be the final exclamation point! He has plans for us that revolve around Christ. How beautifully and rightly selfish He is!

O Lord, do not forsake the work of Your hands!

But through my life reveal and magnify Christ!