Tuesday, 1/28/20 – Pressing on…

Construction materials…

It had been King David’s desire to build a great temple to the Lord, but God made clear to David that it would not be David who would build a temple but David’s son Solomon who would build it. Indeed, that is what happened.

Solomon recognized from the beginning just how absurd and presumptuous it was to think that mere mortals could ever build a dwelling for the infinite God Almighty! Even as he ordered construction materials from Hiram king of Tyre, Solomon confessed

“The temple I am going to build will be great, because our God is greater than all other gods. But who is able to build a temple for him, since the heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain him? Who then am I to build a temple for him, except as a place to burn sacrifices before him?” (2 Chron. 2:5-6)

Years later in his prayer of dedication of the temple Solomon again admitted,

“But will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built!” (1 Kings 8:27)

As we saw yesterday, it is God Who is “the builder of all things.” “Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain.” wrote Solomon (Ps. 127:1) The very best we can do as mortals is to offer ourselves to the Lord allowing Him to use us as He will in that which He builds.

But what role can we play? Where are… What are… our construction tools for this so great a cooperative construction?

There is great danger in asking such questions. Such questions presume too much! Tool wielders is not the purpose God has for us in this at all. He does not wish us to use construction materials; He wishes us to be construction materials!

When Peter confessed that Christ is the Messiah Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church.” (see Matt. 16:15-20)

Jesus is saying that the foundation upon which He will build His Church is Himself and the faith, the trust, believers will have in Him for redemption and Lordship. Years later Peter came to further understand that the building blocks are the faithful themselves. He wrote,

“As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him—you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 2:4-5).

More tomorrow…

To hear Pastor Andrew’s complete message, go to the Lincoln Baptist Church website and look under ‘Sermons Online’ for the Jan. 26 message.