My son enjoys computer games.
Recently, he bought a car racing game. He had a steering wheel and pedals he could connect to his computer. But he wanted to construct a gaming seat. Online instructions showed him how to make the seat out of plumbing piping, wood, and an old office chair. He went to a hardware store for all the parts. He and I cut piping. We assembled the chair and glued each section. He painted the chair, first with white primer, then in red paint. We attached the wooden sections. We dismantled an old office chair and screwed the seat in place. We attached the steering wheel and pedals. Finally, we set it up in his bedroom with his computer. It has been most rewarding project for him to complete.
God also has a building project. It’s you and me. Listen to Ephesians 2:19-22
Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
God’s project is the church. The design is for us to be like Jesus – attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 4:13). The parts list is you and me – we are living stones being built into a spiritual house (1 Peter 2:5). The glue is the Holy Spirit – we keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:3). The paint is God’s love – over all Christian virtues put on love (Colossians 3;14). And the purpose is for us to be the living example of God’s grace to the world – we are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit (Ephesians 2:22).
What a privilege to be under the careful eye of our great builder. And what a privilege to be used by the Lord to display his glory.
So, if we wonder if God is working in our lives, or if we’re any use to God, or if God has overlooked us, let's remember that God has chosen us, he’s brought us together in Jesus, and together we get to be part of his great design to bring people to faith in Jesus. Let this encourage you this week.
視頻大意翻譯(Brief video Chinese translation):
大家早,歡迎參加今天的線上靈修。
我兒子喜歡電腦遊戲,最近他買了一個賽車的遊戲。他有一個方向盤, 加速的踏板和電腦連接,但他想為這賽車遊戲建造一個專門的座椅。他在網路上找尋指示,這些指南告訴他如何從水管,木頭和舊的辦公椅做一個椅子。
於是他去了一家五金店。 他收集了所有的零件。 我們切割水管。 我們把椅子組裝起來並檢查是否合適。 我們把椅子拆開,把每個部分都粘起來。 然後他給椅子上了漆,首先是白色底漆。 然後他把它塗成紅色。 我們把木頭部分連接起來。 我們拆了一把舊的辦公椅,用螺絲釘把它固定住。 最後,我們把方向盤和踏板連接起來。
接著,我們把這椅子放在他的臥室和電腦一起,對他來說,完成這個計畫是最有意義的。
神也有個建造計畫,就是你和我,聽以弗所書2:19-22
這樣、你們不再作外人、和客旅、是與聖徒同國、是 神家裏的人了.並且被建造在使徒和先知的根基上、有基督耶穌自己為房角石.各房靠他聯絡得合式、漸漸成為主的聖殿.
神的計劃就是教會。是為了讓我們更像耶穌-得以長大成人、滿有基督長成的身量(以弗所書4:13)。這部份說的就是你和我-就像活石、被建造成為靈宮(彼得前書 2:5)。聖靈是我們的連著劑-用和平彼此聯絡(以弗所書 4:3)。神的愛是我們的漆-以爱为首的基督徒美德(歌羅西書3:14)。目的就是讓我們在這世界活出一個神恩典的榜樣-我們也靠他同被建造成為神藉着聖靈居住的所在(以弗所書 2:22)。
你和我是神榮耀的計畫,多大的榮幸我們能在最偉大建造者關懷的眼下,並被主使用來成為他榮耀的展示。
有時候我們懷疑神是否在我們的生命中動工,或我們能為神所使用嗎?有時我們懷疑神是否忽略了我們。神選擇了你和我,他把我們帶到耶穌的身邊,我們成為他偉大設計的一部分,把人帶來相信耶穌。我鼓勵我們每一個人去連結、去喜樂、讓神在我們的生活中有他的方法。然後,他會掌握方向盤,腳放在踏板上,指引我們到更偉大的榮耀。
讓我們禱告。