Thought For The Day

Rebuilding

I stopped by where my friend is rebuilding a house in our little town. It was barely standing when he bought it a while back. He said some folks had been living in it for six years without electricity or running water. It was literally falling down.

As we walked through what he has already accomplished I could see that the floor, once scary, is solid and level. New windows let in light, and soon paint will displace years of neglect. A beautiful “dry stack” rock wainscot will beautify the outside, and electricity and a city water supply will make it livable. It has a long way yet to go, but it is coming. Soon it will be a lovely little home where a family can live and grow and be comfortable.

It reminds me that it looks a lot like the life of many folks I know. Without realizing how quickly life falls into disrepair, folks all around have a life that is troublesome, discouraging, full of disappointment and despair. It is even true of some Church families who have all0wed the Enemy to sow discord and fear, bitterness and hurt, and damage the internal structure of what God designed for His people, the Church.

In the case of the house, my friend is doing great work (long, hard hours), and bringing in craftsmen to do some of the “heavy lifting” in areas that require special training. And the Church that is in disrepair has the Spirit of God, always ready and often waiting, to do the work of transformation that God designs for His people. Yes, He (the Spirit) uses gifted men and women to accomplish much of the physical work, while He concentrates on the Spiritual work.

There is a unique parallel here. God uses us. We are the tools He provides for our life and others. The Church is the place where tools are found and sharpened and prepared for the work, and lives are changed by His power.

I expect to see that little house become a proper home soon. God expects that His Church will be a proper home for His people. Here is the reminder – it takes Him and us to make a beautiful life, one that brings glory to Him, and joy and peace to us.

Get to work!!

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