Wow, this holiness and righteousness requirement of God
seems like such an impossible task to live out. In my own strength, I try to
build a resistance to the attitudes, temptations, and the daily pulls I encounter.
However, an examination of my heart shows
me that my best attempts are just flesh-driven habits, mantras, and resolve, easily
evaporated in the heat of spiritual battles.
I need something more; I’m dependent on something greater than myself. I
cannot walk this road in my own power.
What the Lord continues to do is break me, with each
breaking, I become weaker in the flesh but stronger in the Spirit. My fleshly
attempts at holiness have been similar to that of a man who builds his home with
a faux-brick exterior but expects the performance of a real brick home. How
naïve. As an exterior adornment, faux bricks and stonework’s look great and
give the appearance of a well-built structure. What’s even more attractive is
the fact that the materials are lightweight, less costly, and install quickly, having
many of the aesthetic and resistive benefits of the “real thing.” From the
outside, everything looks great.
However, true brick homes take time to build right and require
more of an investment from those who desire this type of construction. Though
costly, the investment in the “real thing” provides an increased resistance to infestation,
rot, and harsh weather while providing some thermal benefits.
Translate this analogy over to your spiritual walk and you
will see that we are faced with those same decisions as we choose to allow God
to build our lives—or just settle for something that costs less. Have you
considered the cost? Psalm 127:1 tells us, “Unless the Lord builds the house
its builders labor in vain.” Are you allowing the Lord to be the architect and
builder of your spiritual life? We are the temple of the Holy Spirit and we
need a wise architect, a strong builder, and quality materials. Through grace, they’re
provided through the power of God, His Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Paul tells us in Hebrews 3:10-13 (NIV), “By the grace God
has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is
building on it. But each one should build with care. 11 For no one
can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12
If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood,
hay or straw, 13 their work will be shown for what it is, because
the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire
will test the quality of each person’s work. 14 If what has been
built survives, the builder will receive a reward.”
It this relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ that builds
the type of life and treasures that moths, rust, and thieves cannot destroy or
steal. Pull the sign out of the yard, I’m buying!
Are you allowing the Lord to be the architect and builder of your spiritual life?
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This has been a guest post by a very good friend and brother in Christ, M. Coffin. Look forward to more great posts in the near future!
Ouch!
ReplyDeletetrue brick homes take time to build right
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