I have a friend who is “breaking down” her house – moving – it is tough but her children are going to be there to help to both pack up this one and blessedly to open up the new life for her in her new place. It is a process that the Lord started by building up her family to help her – as she helped them build their lives, they are helping her build and rebuild hers. And she will get to see her grandchildren and be part of building up of their lives. And the Lord? The Lord is the Cornerstone of all. Let us Let the Lord build us up.
“Unless the Lord builds the house, They labor in vain who build it”
Better Building is by the Lord – Better Building – of faith, of foundations, of families – of fruit – of Forever. The road to the Peace of the Lord is by His “Smoothing” of our road travelled and of the conditions allowing the building up of plans. If we want to see something to succeed – it is best to be planned with the Lord rather than ask for the Lord’s blessing after the fact. It is best to also watch what the Lord is building and then join His Labor Crew.
With my friend moving, I have watched the Lord provide the time the people the energy as “on a needs by basis” – doled out not in one big flourish of movement but by continual piece by piece falling into place.
I am always fascinated by the understanding of scripture being revealed with an eye-of-the-brain “Ah – ha!” … And I am intrigued how people of the scriptures did not see something until the Lord let it be revealed to them. I know that the Lord has given us a brain – and a heart – and a soul – ears and eyes – but we require the Spirit of interpretation to see things from His Perspective. Yes. And we do need the Holy Spirit to guide us in building up ourselves, our faith, our families and our plans. We need Jesus as our Cornerstone – as He is the Cornerstone of the building of us into the Kingdom of God.
The interesting scripture to contemplate is of how the disciples of Jesus walked with Him thru the Temple of Jerusalem built by Solomon and rebuilt in the time after the Babylonian exile. Solomon’s marvelous temple, destroyed and pillaged much – is still remembered today. Jesus was and IS a marvelous Temple of God Himself, destroyed and pillaged much – but still remembered. Jesus, the flesh, was in a time for a purpose and Jesus the God is for Forever.
Jesus talked about the temples being destroyed – the building (as He walked with His disciples marveling at it) – and of Himself. Certain people could not wrap their heads around this notion until by the Spirit’s Guidance. This is recounted in Matthew 24:1-2 Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”
Jesus talked about the Temple being rebuilt – HIMSELF – in John 2:18-22, the Gospel of Wisdom, about the authority he used to overturn the crooked unfair dealings of the money exchangers in the Temple – The confused Jews said to Jesus: “What sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?” Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.” They replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?” But the temple he had spoken of was his body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.
And Jesus talked about Himself being the Cornerstone – our faith’s cornerstone and that being the foundation of the building up of the Kingdom of Heaven.
Mark 12:10–11 Have you not read this Scripture: “‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?”
Luke 20:17 But he looked directly at them and said, “What then is this that is written: “‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone’?
1 Peter 2:4–7 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,”
Blessed to be in the Build – BETTER BUILDING BY THE LORD!
Amen
Psalm 127 NKJV
Laboring and Prospering with the Lord – A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon.
Unless the Lord builds the house, They labor in vain who build it;
Unless the Lord guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain.
It is vain for you to rise up early, To sit up late, To eat the bread of sorrows;
For so He gives His beloved sleep.
Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,
The fruit of the womb is a reward.
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,
So are the children of one’s youth.
Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them;
They shall not be ashamed,
But shall speak with their enemies in the gate.
Debbie Upper 