Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Building Well Is Work

Thinking about how we walk out our walks as believers this morning it made me think of construction. It is cold and windy and snowy here this morning. When I was much younger I worked construction in weather like this. I can remember getting to work and starting fires in 55 gallon drums to try to warm our hands throughout the day. The company I worked for had a good reputation as a builder of quality homes, and we did good work. But it was challenging at times. I think it is the same way for us as believers, building our walks with God one day at a time, one hour at a time, moment by moment.

Philippians 1:1 Paul and Timothy, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:
2 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,
4 Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,
5 For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;
6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

We see from this letter from Paul and Timothy that they understood that there was a process we go through as believers. Be change over time as we grow in our understanding. For me this is challenging many times. Like many others here in America, I have become accustomed to things happening at a faster pace, a pace that I control. In our walk, God is working to get us to be more like Him, and to have that be engrained in us as our most natural way to be. We become those people of faith, doing the works of God and living after the manner He wants us to live.

1 Peter 1:6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
10 Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:

Back in the times of home construction there were times when we would get something crooked or damaged and have to redo that particular trim, wall board, or some other material in an attempt to build a good building that we could be proud to have done. It is that way with us, as Peter says. Sometimes the temptations of life give us a sense opof heaviness when we give place to them. But God is faithful to work together with us and in us to help us mature and become the sons and daughters of God that He has called us to be. We just need to do the work.

Prayer
Father, we exalt You as the Most High God. You alone can help us in this earth. We need Your kingdom and Your presence here today. Send us today Your abundant provision. We ask that You forgive us our mistakes and failures to walk with You, and help us to be with You always. You never leave us or forsake us. We want to do the same toward You. We need Your love in our lives today. Heal us and deliver us. Show Your people a sign for good today. In Jesus’ (Yeshua’s) name. Amen.