Philippians 1:3-6
Making bread at home is messy, but it is good! Once the ingredients are mixed, the lump of dough is kneaded until everything has blended together. Then it is allowed to rise for a few minutes before it is put in the oven and baked into something yummy for the tummy!
Paul told his fellow believers that God, who had begun a good work in them, would be faithful to bring it to completeness. Once they accepted the basic principles of salvation by grace, through faith, God would “knead” them through trials and temptations; allowing that grace to penetrate into every area of their lives. Then He would allow them to “grow up” in their understanding of their faith, so they could survive the fires of persecution.
No matter where we are in that process, God isn’t finished with us yet, and He won’t be until we are completely conformed to the image of Christ. But the promise is that God will finish what He has started. Our purpose is to remain pliable, like “dough,” until that process is complete. Even if your life is a “mess” right now, yield to Him – He is “kneading” you to let you now how much you “need” Him!