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Being Built
The part of this verse that really stands out for me is “you too are being built”. I remember when I used to attend church years ago, I would wonder where and how would I connect with Jesus and these people sitting around me who seemed to have it all figured out. I just couldn’t envision myself as one of them, those believers. I had made the decision to accept Jesus but now what was I supposed to do? At first I was looking for the things I was supposed to do for God so that I could be deserving of His love. I was told things like, do quiet time every day, read the bible cover to cover, go to church, pray and ask for guidance, join a bible study. And though these are all great things to do, I was struggling because I still felt on the outside of a world that was foreign and in a lot of ways, uncomfortable.
Then God put Jimmy Davis in my path. Jimmy taught me that I don’t need to do anything to be deserving of God’s love, that God already loves me and through Jesus I am already seen as sinless and pure. My whole life I was taught that if I do, then I get. Now I was learning that with God – I already have.
What I have come to realize and hold on to is that God is doing the work of making me who He wants me to be. He is building all of us through His spirit to become a dwelling. That means we are on a journey that we have not reached the end of. The really cool part about being a believer, especially a new believer, is watching how God works in our heart. The Holy Spirit lives in us and is constantly molding and shaping our hearts in a way that we are becoming the sons and daughters we are meant to be. All of us (you too).
Now, as an elder, I get to watch how God takes a group of strong mature believers that He has molded, and together this group can impact our world. Through prayer, trust and steps of faith we are stepping out to be the hands and feet of Jesus by working in Smyrna. As a church community that He has built, He can show others through us how much He loves them too.
“If I do…”
“If” is conditional. God’s love, mercy, and grace are unconditional in Jesus.
“I” depends on me. Now it all depends on Jesus, and His work of salvation is complete.
“Do” means that works displaces faith. I believe God, and he has counted that as righteousness. It is God at work in me, not the “works” that I do.
I accept the unconditional love, mercy, and grace of our Lord. My salvation was paid for on the Cross. It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me, and I in Him. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Amen, Frank and Bill!
Isn’t it amazing how God has brought all of us nobodies (with nothing to offer God) together and made us somebodies (because God, the most powerful being in the universe, has offered us everything)! And in the great big world, we make a difference. Not only do we touch lives in Smyrna, GA but we touch lives in Kenya, Greece, Bosnia, Haiti and any other place on the planet God sends us. But he also sends us to make a difference in the lives of friends, relatives, coworkers and strangers. How awesome.
Brother:
Awesome message! Just know that the impact that Jimmy had on you is the same kind of impact you had on me when you were my facilitator in Fresh Start. Your kindness and desire to minister to me allowed me to heal, grow, and begin to serve others.
I’ll never forget what God did for me through you.
Love you.
It is nice to know that I get to be a part of the “And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit”. I ask that God would continue to give me quality time with him where he exposes this type of assurance to me, that he is working in me. Let us give some extra focus to what he is doing in us.
Thanks for the time you took to share.