Tuesday, June 4, 2013

The Many Builders – Part 1

This past weekend I heard a message from our pastor that was quite good. He was introducing a series of teachings focused on the Psalms. There was something very interesting in what he said. He spoke of spending time reading the scriptures daily as a good practice, and was speaking in particular of the Psalms. The Psalms are one of my favorite books, as those of you that read this daily may now know. He pointed out the many people that have stated that the Psalms deal with emotions. I agree. They are filled with the strong convictions of the psalmists. There are cries to God, with God answering. There are also calls to us to live lives dedicated to God and His work. There are many places that tell us how to build our faith for victory over our enemy with our voice in praise and thanksgiving to God. These scripture build us up.

It occurred to me as I listened that he was building in me and others the instructions and directions to becoming what God is calling us to become. Paul spoke about the many builders in 1 Corinthians 3. It takes more than us alone to build us up. It takes the church community around us. We are becoming the bride, the New Jerusalem spoken of in Revelations 21:9-11. Nehemiah needed many people to rebuild the old Jerusalem and the wall. It is important then that we do read daily, as much as is within us. And it is important to realize that we also need the builders of the community to help us build.

Prayer
Father, thank You for the many people You send our way to help us to be built into the bride of the Lamb. I ask that You bless those that build, and those that are being built today, Lord, with the desire and the ability to continue to press towards the mark of the high calling in the Messiah Jesus. Please forgive us all for those things we do that we should not, and for not doing that which we should. Help us to shift that. In Jesus name. Amen.