BUILT - by Niki Melton

Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.”  


My dad went through a spell where he was very serious about woodworking.  At one point, his hobby had overtaken our garage completely, and resulted in several pieces of furniture that filled our home.  One of the few things I saved from my childhood was a wooden barn that he had created for my Breyer horses (or Barbies, depending on the day).  The cool thing about the barn, was that as a child, I helped with the design.  The idea that since it would be for my purposes and use, it should be created to function and contain in all the ways I wanted.  I could imagine that if he wanted to build something awesome, he could have forgone some of my suggestions and tried some design plans of his own.  The problem though, would exist that even though it may look cooler, it would not perform authentically as I intended.  And so, he stuck to the plan I originated, and he created the play barn that I have passed down to my children.  


Can you imagine if we were trying to have a discussion with our Lord about building ourselves up for his purpose?  Sounds audacious, right?  But yet, sometimes that is exactly what we do.  “Well God, I know that if X, Y, or Z, happened, it would be a great way to use things to your glory…” – We will “use” God to justify our wants, plans, and attitudes.  It happens quite subtly really, any not with any ill-intention.  Just the simple thought that since he is making us new, he must be making us new in a way that makes sense.  But that’s just it, he is, but in a way that makes sense to him, not us (Is. 55:8-9).  


Eph.2:22
In him you are also being built together for God’s dwelling in the Spirit.


Hear what that is saying… not only are you being built for his purpose, but you communally are being built for his Spirit.  Meaning that you and all the believers are a “building”, with Christ as the Cornerstone (yes, just like the song 😊).  The overarching plans for the individuals make it possible for them to link up and create the whole of the “building”; the unity established in us through Christ.  


Sometimes those things that don’t seem like they would fit in with what you would choose for yourself are for the greater purpose of building unity for the Holy Spirit’s dwelling.  Eph. 2:21, “In him the whole building, being put together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.”  I love that it says, “grows”.  It establishes the visual of more and more being incorporated into the building, and it is getting higher and more functional.  I would LOVE to be more functional for our Lord.  But these verses seem to indicate that it is best if I don’t put my two-sense in about how to get there.  The blocks don’t build themselves into a building, just as we don’t build ourselves up for our God.  


So, my thought today?  Let God be the stonecutter, and builder of his Holy Temple.  As for me?  I am a member of God’s household, saved by grace and being created anew according to his purpose… and if I get a wonky corner-cut, then Praise God, it is for his glory and the continued building of his Holy Spirit’s dwelling place.