1 Corinthians 3:9 "You are...God's building."
To erect a building, we must use a hammer and a saw, we must trim and cut. If we would not trim a single stone or saw a single board, we could not build a house.
We are God's building. God builds us for a godly life in this world and for eternal life in the world to come. To do this, God must cut and saw and trim. We do not always think of it in this way. We call it misfortune, hard luck, trouble; yet God is building us for time and eternity through pain and suffering, through sorrow and loss. God is the wise master builder, who never makes mistakes.
Though God builds through pain and loss, He is very near to us, to strengthen us and to encourage us through His Word when the going is hard. Are we worried? He takes us into His Word and invites us to cast all our care upon Him "because He cares for you" (1 Peter 5:7). Are we sick? He says: "I am the Lord, who heals you" (Exodus 15:26). Are we troubled in conscience? He promises: "The blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin" (1 John 1:7). Are we facing death? He promises: "I am the Resurrection and the Life" (John 11:25).
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, build us as You will, and grant us grace to understand and to praise you. Amen.
(Taken from "Words of Promise," copyright 1996, Concordia Publishing House (out of print). For information on other devotional materials, call 1-800 325-3040.)
Today's Bible Readings: Job 1-2 Matthew 7
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