Made Complete, Yes Please!

 

 

He was my favorite toy at the time.

His name was Andy. Raggedy Andy to be exact. My mom made him and Raggedy Ann the theme of my bedroom. I had a toy chest with their pictures on the front, and she decoupaged fabric cut outs onto my window shades. My room was so cool.

I loved Raggedy Andy so much that he lost his shape. His stuffing was flat and lumpy. His fabric was wearing thin, and a few buttons had popped from his form. I took him everywhere I went.

One summer we vacationed with another family at a lake where we shared a cottage. Darcy, their daughter, and I lay in bed one night giggling and telling stories. I don’t remember what caused our fight over Andy, but I remember playing tug-of-war with her for my beloved doll.

And then it happened. As we yanked Andy’s poor arms back and forth, a ripping sound pierced the darkness and my heart. I had won the tug-of-war game, but I held a one-armed Raggedy Andy.

It was tragic. Andy would have to wait until we got back home for my mom to make him complete again with the help of a needle and thread, and I couldn’t play with him during the trip less more stuffing escaped.

If life were only that simple still, right?

If only a needle and thread could mend the wounds, restore the lost appendages of our hearts, and make us whole.

But there is hope, and He heals much better than a needle and thread. Only Jesus can complete us. Only Jesus can make us completely whole.

God promised in Jeremiah 29:11, “I know my plans for you, says the Lord, plans for shalom and not to harm, plans for hope and a future.”

Shalom is often translated as peace or prosperity, but it also means to make complete or make whole. 

The word salvation also carries the idea of being made complete, and our translations often use the word perfect which also means complete.

“Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete (made perfect, KJV) by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, ‘Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,’ and he was called God’s friend” (James 2: 21-23 NIV addition mine).

The Greek word in question here is Teleioo  which means: complete, mature, to complete by reaching an intended goal, cause to be concluded, make perfect. (Key Word Study Bible)

I find it fascinating that Jesus completes us. And though the first step is faith or trusting in Him, being made complete is a process that requires our participation. Come find out how our faith is made complete, how it’s finished. Discover how we reach the intended goal, becoming mature, completely whole.

 

 

Sneak Peek of Verses and Questions Available on the Free Printable:

James 2: 21-23: Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?  You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.  And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend.

Q. Write down a time when you obeyed God. Are you glad you did? How did that strengthen your faith?

Hebrews 12: 21-24:  But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly,  to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,  to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

Q. “Made perfect” can be translated as “made complete.” How has Jesus “completed” you?

John 4:34: “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.

Q. How did Jesus complete the work of God?

Acts 20:24: However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.

Q. Write down how God’s grace has affected your life? What’s your testimony?

Philippians 3: 12: Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

Q. How do you press on until the day that we are all complete in Him with Him in eternity?

2 Corinthians 12:9: But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

Q. Christ’s power is “made complete” in weakness. The word “rest” means “reside”. Our weaknesses are a good thing because they make us rely on Christ in us. Can you remember a time when Christ gave you strength? Write it down.

1 John 2:5:   But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him.

Q. How is our love for God made complete? Is He telling you to do anything today? Do you love Him?

 

Get the printable here. 

 

Digging Deeper together

Join our fellowship on Facebook and extra teaching on each bite every morning at 8:20 ET via Facebook Live or later on my You Tube channel. It’s 25ish minutes of praying together and being encouraged. It’s like breakfast for your soul. Here’s an example from last week’s teaching on Love, Mercy, and Peace being ours. 

Quiet Time

This morning rather than lighting one candle, I lit three. They had been a gift I’d set on a shelf and forgot about until today. As I lit them, all I could think of was Father, Son, and Holy Spirit with me. It was a sweet time digging deep and listening. We need silence to hear. I’m praying for you to be given a moment like the one I experienced today as you study this Bite of Bread reading plan. Read the verse. Write it down in a journal, and then listen. He will tell you what to do, what to read, what to write, or maybe He’ll just tell you He loves you. Let the Word speak to you. Be intentional. Make a special place in your home and your day for your date with Jesus.

Let Him complete you.

 

XXXOOO

 

andy