Tag: Rock

We are Building Materials

I have been studying the words “build”, “builds” and “built” for the past few weeks and what I have learned is that the LORD builds in intentionality. Everything that he does has purpose. He only uses the finest materials in the building of His House. And this morning it all comes together that we are the building materials He is using.

“4As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5you 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.” – 1 Peter 2:4-5 (ESV)

The LORD sees us as precious stones used to build His house. We are the building blocks. We are used in His good work. I am encouraged completely by these words.

“18And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” – Matthew 16:18 (ESV)

I find it great and interesting that the LORD chooses Peter to speak to us about being the building blocks when he was identified by Jesus to the “rock” on which His church was to be built. Peter may have been the rock on which the church was built, but he wanted us to know that we are also the building blocks. Peter was just a man as we are, and yet Jesus used Him for great things as He will with you and me.

Temples and houses of worship are built using only the best material. The Tabernacle of Moses, being a tent was built using only the best materials available (see beginning in Exodus 25). No detail was left to chance. All of it was of the highest quality even as it was a tent that was to be moved with the peoples migration.

And all of the materials were provided by the people, not by the hardware store. All was the fruit of the people. God used the people to not only provide the materials, but to build the physical place. And that is what He does even today with you and me. He has made us as the building materials and the builders of His house.

Yes, Jesus is the cornerstone, and Peter is the rock, we are the materials, and we are the best of materials. We may have some blemishes and may not be very pretty, but Jesus will refine us to the glorious materials He needs for the construction of His house. Just as the materials that were available for the Tabernacle of Moses was refined to be the best for the LORD.

What is your view of the materials to build the House of the LORD? Are you searching for those materials to be provided for you? What if you were to look inward to find the beauty and best materials are you and allow yourself to be used by God to be the materials for His House?

Life Built on the Rock

In the world of building, the foundation is the most important. You can have the most beautiful architecture and ornate visual appearance, but without a strong foundation, it will not last. Life is the same. We can skate along with the surface view of all things being right, but when the circumstances get tough, that surface view is wiped away by the cracks underneath. Jesus dealt with this as he wrapped up His greatest sermon.

“24Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” – Matthew 7:24-27 (ESV)

The above sounds a bit like “The Three Little Pigs”. But the above happened and was recorded first so “The Three Little Pigs” (first published in 1890) sounds a bit like Jesus.

Jesus often spoke in parable and as seen here, He sticks to that process. The foundation, as I noted earlier, is the most important part of building. As noted in the commentary of my ESV Bible, “a wise builder knew that he needed to dig several feet below the surface to the bedrock in order to establish the foundation for his house” as he was well aware of the shifting of sand that would come around the Sea of Galilee. The same can be said for us in our lives.

In our lives, what people see is that which is on the surface. As is understandable, we want people to see us as stable and strong. Well generally what we present only looks stable and strong. I have watched many a house flipping show where in the course of demolition once the surface is removed, a fragile or even nonexistent foundation is exposed. I know many people who are the same. For weeks on their social media profile, they are “#blessed” and the next they are devastated as everything has fallen apart.

I am not saying that we do not have times like that, where one day everything is good and the next we are struggling. Anything can happen in the course of a day. But, what I can say is that we do not have to be devastated with the change in circumstances. Jesus provides the foundation for us to build our lives on. He is the rock on which we stand.

“On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand: all other ground is sinking sand; all other ground is sinking sand.”

The above is the refrain from the hymn, “My Hope is Built on Nothing Less”. I have to build my life on that which is not going anywhere. The foundation of my life should be strong and unwavering. When my circumstances change, I should still stand firm on the foundation, knowing that I am gonna be alright. I have to know that whatever comes my way, I have the base of my life firmly on the Rock that is Jesus Christ and His unfailing love.

Where are you building your life? Are you more concerned with the life that everyone sees and forget about the changing circumstances that will come? What if you built your life on the Rock that is Jesus, knowing that whatever comes your way, He will never fail to keep you on solid ground?