"Christ, as the Son, is in charge of God's entire
house. And we are God's house, if we keep our courage and remain confident
in our hope in Christ." (Hebrews 3:6 NLT)
"For I know the plans I have for you," says the
Lord, "plans for well-being and not for trouble, to give you a future and a
hope." (Jeremiah 29:11 NLV)
Our house burned to the ground when I was a young
teenager. At that time, clear across town, the city was planning to build a
highway through a fancier neighbourhood, which meant tearing down every
house that stood in its way. With our insurance money, my father bought one
of those houses. It was wooden with white siding, much newer than our old
one. He planned to move it way across town where our other house had stood.
After clearing our lot of burned debris, he made careful measurements. Then,
he built the larger-sized foundation required, lining up a place for the
septic tank and plumbing, and taking advice, since he had no training in
this kind of thing. The city required him to get a number of permits. Then,
he had to plot a route through the city, working around obstacles and taking
down telephone lines. But the day came when the new house was wrenched from
its old foundation and loaded on a big truck. Finally, creaking and
groaning, pipes waving this way and that, down our street at last came the
house with its "Wide Load" sign.
Suddenly, just as the house was about to be moved
onto his new foundation, he saw that the beams underneath were crosswise to
the ones that he'd built so carefully to fit the new basement. He had to rip
out all those heavy timbers and re-position them the other way around, while
the house continued to sit on the truck in our backyard. Though we continued
to believe that he knew what he was doing, it was a very trying time for our
family. About a week later, our family was safe and snug inside.
As a member of God's family, it is comforting to
know that He makes no mistakes: every believer is a spiritual body, a house
of God, a temple of the Holy Spirit. To the outside world, we carry His
message in everything that we do and say.
"For we know that when this tent we live in -- our
body here on earth -- is torn down, God will have a house in heaven for us
to live in, a home he himself has made, which will last forever." (2
Corinthians 5:1 GNT)
Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, we are so thankful
that You alone are our Creator and Builder. Your perfect blueprint for our
lives brings us meaning, purpose, and peace. When we make mistakes, stumble,
and fall, You have raised us up, like the psalmist says, setting us again in
a good place, providing a firm and sure foundation in the person of Your
Son, Jesus, grounded firm and deep in His love. Experience continues to show
us that He is the solid rock of ages that never shall be moved. In Christ's
name, we pray. Amen.
Rose DeShaw
Kingston, Ontario,
Canada
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