God at Work
Tuesday, February 17, 2004
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My Prayer Today
Dear God, I thank you that you are building me into who you want me to be. I surrender myself to your will. I want my life to count for Jesus, and to make a difference. I don't want to waste my time, my energy, or ultimately my life. Help me to put your eternal purposes first. Build me into the kind of man/woman that you can trust. And when I stand before you on the day of judgment, may you be pleased with how I invested my life for the sake of Jesus. Forgive me Lord in the areas I have fallen short. I ask that you would help me this day to do what honors you. I pray this all in the name of Jesus . . . Amen.
God's Word Today
1 Corinthians 3:10-14
"Because of God's special favor to me, I have laid the foundation like and expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful. For no one can lay any other foundation than the one we already have -- Jesus Christ. Now anyone who builds on that foundation may use gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. But there is going to come a time of testing at the judgment day to see what kind of work each has done. Everyone's work will be through the fire to see whether or not it keeps its value. If the work survives the fire, that builder keeps the reward."
Reflecting on God's Word
Does Paul specify in 1 Corinthians 3:10-14 different types of materials that can be built upon the foundation? What?
When will the building materials be tested? How will it be tested?
Will there be a difference between materials that survive the fire and those that do not?
A Deeper Exploration of God's Word
Will the building "materials" of your life survive Judgment Day? How so?
What is your life composed of now? What is your daily routine?
Why do you do what you do? For what reason?
Understanding God's Purpose for Us
How much of your life is spent on things that are "temporary?"
Can you focus on things that are "eternal" on your job, or at home? How?
What are the things that are "eternal"?
Applying God's Word to Our Purpose
If everything we do is to be judged, what will your life have to show for how you lived for Jesus?
What is your "building project" right now? Is it eternal or temporal? Why?
If your foundation has proven true through life's storms, does that inspire you to continue working on the foundation? How so?
Thoughts
Every builder knows that a building must pass inspection, and it must be built to a specified code in order for the building to pass. For example, if the building does not meet fire codes, disabilities codes, or any other specifications, changes will need to be made. God reveals to us in his word that our lives will have to pass an inspection of ultimate proportions. In 1 Corinthians 3:10-14, Paul states that there "will come a time of testing at the judgment day to see what kind of work the builder has done." In other words, our life will be judged by how we lived it. Yesterday we talked about the importance of our foundation being on Jesus, today we are talking about the importance our life's work (or our "house") as being something that will truly last.
Nobody likes to waste time or energy. But unless we establish our life upon Jesus Christ and do things to his glory, our whole life will be a total loss. As Paul reveals, only that which is founded upon Jesus will truly last. Many of us get so consumed with being "comfortable" that we often miss the point. We are not put on this earth simply to have a nice car, a big house, have a great job, or to be popular and powerful. We are placed on this earth to give God glory in what we do and how we do it. Anything less that this, will be a waste of time and energy. We have been talking this week about "God at Work" in our lives. We have seen that God has a plan, and he is the builder, but we can disobey his plans. We can sin. Therefore, God wants us to submit ourselves to his perfect plan and do everything with pure heart. God is building us, but if there will be a judgment at the end to see if we obeyed his "design."