“…unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain…” (Ps. 127:1)

I referenced that verse in the graphic I used for yesterday’s post, and the Lord keeps bringing that back to my mind to ponder. “Unless the Lord…builds the house…”

Friends, this is a picture of what ‘grace’ looks like. It’s all Him…who is doing it; it’s not us, never was and never will be us…’doing it for Him’, or ‘in His name’, like those folks in Matt. 7:22. But make no mistake about it…IF…He is doing it, it will be evident to all. “By this…will all men know you are My disciples…”(John 13:34-35) and you will be known by your ‘fruit’ (Matt. 7:20).  And if you are not abiding in Jesus for Him to produce that fruit...there simply...will be none. (Joh 15:4-5)

I know this may ‘land’ rough for some who read this, but there are far too many sincere, yet deceived ‘believers’ running around today professing how it’s all God’s ‘grace’ that has them ‘covered’ today, but the only problem is…there is no lasting evidence of it. King Saul fell into that same deceptive trap as he boasted to Samuel how he had ‘done what the Lord had commanded’, to which Samuel fires back: “Oh really? Then what is the lowing of the oxen and the bleating of the sheep I hear?” (1 Sam. 15:10-23). [i.e.- ‘What’s that coming out of your heart?’]

IF God is ‘doing it’…we will know it! Do you know what it means to do something in ‘vain’? It means ‘to make a useless, unsuccessful, or futile effort that achieves no desired or lasting results’. Paul addresses this notion in 1 Cor. 13:1-3 as he points out all these ‘spiritual things’ one can be doing or involved with…and yet…it still ‘profits you nothing’…if the real ‘fruit of love’ is lacking. And there’s a reason I bring this up, which I will attempt to tie together with all this today.

Whether we are talking about those folks who were working on rebuilding the ‘house of God’ back in the books of Ezra and Haggai, or Samson who had lost his vision and was stuck pushing a grindstone in circles, the message is clear: If there is going to be any ‘glory’ revealed, it will be all God who is bringing it to pass; as ‘no flesh will glory in His presence’ (1 Cor. 1:29). The biggest battle or challenge that we often face in seeing or allowing God to work in our lives can be traced back to our ‘mindset’ and how we see or view what is happening around us. And it’s not just about ‘positive thinking’ or having ‘positive confessions and thoughts’, but there is a close parallel I hope we can see.

I get a bit uneasy at times when I hear folks want to introduce and incorporate ‘worldly’ or secular strategies and philosophies into the ‘church’ and with God’s word, as if He needs our help and advice. When the enemies of God’s people ‘heard that they were rebuilding the temple of the Lord...’, they came and offered to help and work alongside them. (Ezra 4:1-3) and were politely rejected, being told their offer of help was not needed. When it comes to what God is doing, He simply needs our cooperation, not our advice or ideas; and there is a difference.

Paul reminds us to “beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ” (Col. 2:4,8). He was also quick to let those at Corinth know that his ‘speech and preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom and intellect, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” (1 Cor. 2:4-5).

So let’s talk for a few moments about this ‘mind battle’ that we all will face when it comes to allowing God to ‘complete that work which He began in us’ (Phil. 1:6). Remember, those folks back in Ezra’s day started…the work, but then got ‘frustrated and discouraged’ by their enemies and the work was derailed. And who is our ‘enemy’ today? (1 Pet. 5:8; Eph. 6:12). God certainly knew what they were thinking when they started back... but needed some added encouragement, which we saw from our studies the past few days. Please make note that God knew…what they were ‘thinking’.

It can be easy to place most of the emphasis on this idea of loving God with ‘all our heart’, but He also points out the importance of doing the same with all our ‘minds’…as well (Luke 10:25-28; Matt. 22:37). And this is no small point either because what we tend to allow to settle and take root in our minds and thought life…eventually works its way into our hearts which then defiles us (Mark 7:21-23) as it becomes evident by the ‘fruit’ that comes out of our mouths. (Matt. 15:18; Gal. 5:19-21; James 3:9-12)

Two verses to center our attention around to wrap up for today - the first one is found in Col. 3:2…were we are admonished to ‘set our minds on things above, not on things on the earth’. This is something He expects us…to do. And the other passage is found in 2 Cor. 10:3-5, where Paul talks about this spiritual ‘warfare’ we find ourselves in, and the importance of ‘bringing into captivity…every thought to the obedience of Christ’ (5).

I’ve said this before and will say it again- I use to believe this idea of actually ‘bringing into captivity...every thought’...sounded good in theory, but certainly was not possible nor an attainable way of living (based on personal experience at least). But that was before I came to understand what it means to ‘abide in Jesus’. One cannot actively or successfully do this unless you are... abiding in Him (John 15:4-5). And I should also add that one’s heart must ‘want’...to be abiding in Him...continually. This idea of being ‘in and out’ might sound good for a hamburger chain, but that does not describe the walk of those who love God with all their hearts where they are ‘on’ some days, and other days prefer to be the one in charge of their lives. And I say this realizing that is how most of us have lived and would describe our walk of faith in the past, but that does not accurately describe the heart and mind of a genuine follower/believer who abides in Jesus.

There is much truth to that old adage that says “You can’t keep the birds from flying overhead, but you can prevent them from building a nest in your head”.

Join me tomorrow?