We have been busy with various projects around the property. Some construction is going on as well as some landscape changes. Some tearing down and some planting and building up. The purpose of this work is that we might better display the glory of the One True God Who is the owner of where we live. We are His managers.
Today my husband and I read from God's Word something about God's work and our work as fellow workers of God. Jeremiah, the Old Testament prophet was chosen and commissioned by God and even though a young man, God tells Jeremiah he must tell others what God will speak. God promises to be with Jeremiah, to rescue him. God also puts His words in the mouth of Jeremiah so Jeremiah can speak God's words. God provides the power to carry out His commands. Jeremiah will tell of God's wrath against those who worship other gods. This is to tear down or uproot. Jeremiah also tells of God's desire to restore and plant. Jeremiah tells that one day God will one day make a New Covenant with man in order to give us a new heart so we might know God and keep His commands. There will be complete forgiveness of sins under this New Covenant.
The Apostle Paul in the New Testament also talked about building. Paul traveled over many parts of the known world planting "churches"; He did so as God's co-laborer--preaching the news of Christ Jesus and Him crucified so that all who repent of their sins and place their trust in the finished work of Christ Jesus, [the Righteous One, who died as our substitute for our sins, eternally triumphant over sin, death and the grave ] might have Life Everlasting and enjoy the presence of God and delight in Him forever. In 1 Corinthians 3 we read about building on a foundation; Ephesians 2 and Colossians 2 tell us more about how to build, and to make sure we build on the RIGHT foundation.
Let's take a closer look at the passage in Ephesians 2 NIV:
Ephesians 2
Made Alive in Christ
1As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. 4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast. 10For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
One in Christ
11Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision" (that done in the body by the hands of men)— 12remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.
14For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, 16and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
19Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, 20built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
Footnotes:
Ephesians 2:3 Or our flesh
How about you? Everyone is "building" their lives. On what foundation are you building? Do you long for the peace that God promises?
