Thursday, December 15, 2005

Unless it all be in vain!

Psa. 127:1 - "Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain."

This verse is not about physical structures (temples, houses or church buildings), but about people. Two verses later (v. 3), "Behold, children are a gift of the Lord; the fruit of the womb is a reward." This is about people, lives, blood, kindred, eternal souls. God establishes a people for Himself. He does the labor. God is the great Builder (v. 1), Watchman (v.1), Servant (v. 2), Worker (v. 2), Laborer (v. 2), indeed the Painful Laborer (v. 2). In reality, we sleep...God works (v. 2)! This is oh so crucial for Christian life and for church planting. If we do the work, then we should get the glory. But if God does it ALL, then ALL glory is His! I Peter 4:11 declares that all of our "serving" is actually God serving us by supplying the strength to serve in a way that God is glorified!

God is the builder of every individual body (v. 3-5), and the builder of every corporate church body (Ephesians 1:23, 5:23, 30; Col. 1:24). Otherwise, it is all in vain!

The worst thing for Grace Church would be for her to be erected by man! Be the Builder Oh God! Be the Builder!

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