Unless The Lord Builds The House (JustJeff

Unless The Lord Builds The House

Psalm 127:1-2
Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it;
Unless the LORD guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain.
2 It is vain for you to rise up early, To sit up late, To eat the bread of
sorrows; For so He gives His beloved sleep.

Yesterday was the end of a forty day fast. I began on May 1 and planned to conclude on Pentecost Sunday. Although I try to do a couple day fast every year, this was the most difficult thing I’ve ever done (my previous long was 3 days). Today and for the next couple of weeks I’m going to spend time processing this experience; what I’ve learned, how I’ve changed, and the new direction the Lord has given me. What is interesting was yesterday’s service. I had an energy and passion for our church that had been missing for almost a year. Last week at our Saturday night prayer Jayme shared an illustration from her life that God had used to show her that the Lord was doing something new in our church. After yesterday’s service, many people affirmed Jayme’s impression.

So I begin reading in 1 Kings this morning. Today’s scheduled reading was the story of Solomon’s building the temple. 6:12-13 says, “Concerning this temple which you are building, if you walk in My statutes, execute My judgments, keep all My commandments, and walk in them, then I will perform My word with you, which I spoke to your father David. 13 And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake My people Israel.” Interesting. Then I flip to Acts, and begin to read Stephen’s message to the High Priest, giving my attention to his description of Abraham’s faith - He moved him to this land in which you now dwell. 5 And God gave him no inheritance in it, not even enough to set his foot on. But even when Abraham had no child, He promised to give it to him for a possession, and to his descendants after him. (7:4-5)
I began to reflect on Jayme and my call to Irvine. We had no family here, no right to claim this land as our own. No big financial resources or promise of security. Only a clear direction that this was God’s will for us – to stake our claim in this land and to receive it as an inheritance.

Then I turn to today’s Psalm and I am reminded that God is building this “house” of New Horizons. On my first day of this new season, I feel like there are 3 directives from the reading today that should serve as new boundaries for my life;
1) Not to get consumed with what I am building (1 Kings 6). God reminds Solomon to keep his priorities right. Obedience is the most important action to God honoring His word.
2) Not to be preoccupied with what I think should be happening (Acts 7). Even though it seems like nothing is happening (at least anything that I, or that I am afraid anyone else, would judge as significant – just kind of walking around the wilderness), God’s promise doesn’t change. I am too often concerned with short-term survival while God is establishing a long-term heritage.
3) Not to be concerned with what I am doing (Psalms 127). Too often I take too much responsibility for my own “success” which only results in frustration and anxiety. All my hard work means nothing if I am not partnering with what God is doing in and through my life.

So it is the start of a new season. A time to let go. A time to press on. And a time to let God do His thing - and accept His invitation to join Him.

Posted by Jeff on June 9, 2003 12:00 AM | Permalink

Unless The Lord Builds The House

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