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Monday, March 19, 2012

Built Up by God

When the Lord appointed Jeremiah as a prophet, part of his calling was “to uproot and tear down…to build and to plant.” (vs. 9-10)  A primary part of a prophet’s calling, or any person in spiritual authority, is to build up the church.  The Apostle Paul wrote that the authority he was given by the Lord was to build up the church, not to tear it down (see II Cor. 10:8 and II Cor. 13:10).  Indeed, to this very day, the Lord is building his church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it! (see Matthew 16:18) 
Of course, building up the church is not just a leader’s job.  As Christians we are called to build each other up.  We do this through words of prayer and encouragement and by serving each other in love.  We are even encouraged to build our own selves up (see Jude 1:20).  We do this through spending time with the Lord in prayer and worship.  One way I like to build myself up is by praying in tongues.    
As the body of Christ, we are connected to one another.  We are “…fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.” (Eph. 2:19-20)  God builds up His church in love.  Together we are being built up as a dwelling place for God. (Eph. 2:22)  God desires that we, as a church, be rooted and grounded in love, and that we ultimately are filled “with all the fullness of God.” (see Eph. 3:14-20)
Sometimes God’s love is revealed to us in correction.  When I was young my parent’s had a wooden paddle.  On the paddle there were some words.  I believe they said, “Never hit a child in the face, nature provides a better place.”  I remember the sting of that paddle on my backside.  Isn’t it interesting how when we grow older we are thankful for the good discipline we received as a child?  Likewise, sometimes God’s discipline hurts for a time, but it “produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” (see Heb. 12:3-11)       
Discipline may come in the form of waiting.  I don’t see the Lord’s discipline as a form of punishment for things we’ve done wrong, necessarily.  I see God’s discipline as a tool of character formation and faith refinement.  God is molding us, making us more like Him.  Just like muscles, as we face resistance in life, we gradually grow stronger. 
There are times of discipline I’ve gone through that have felt like rejection from God.  But I’m learning that these struggles are not rejection, they may in fact be because God loves me so much.  Surely it hurts God to see His children suffer.  Yet, as we grow in Him, surely it brings Him great joy to see in us a reflection of Himself. 
Indeed, the Lord is building us up.  He is building His church.  Just like a parent who, after spanking their child, holds that child in his arms and reassures them of his love, God holds us in His arms today.  He reassures us of how much He loves us.  He builds us back up again and we are stronger for it.

2 comments:

  1. Nice work. I also think it is interesting that the meaning of the word "discipline" is "to teach". You are right, correction is about teaching, not about punishment/shame/condemnation; it is about teaching a different way to be/respond/behave/etc. Loved this post.

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  2. Thanks for your comment. I didn't know that about the word "discipline" but it makes sense.

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