Building projects begin with a picture in mind. They move forward with a process. Thankfully, God has a process already in place to help us experience A Garden Walk.
So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. (Ephesians 4:11-13 NIV)
People who are mature in their faith are supposed to build into others who are not as mature. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people for works of service. In other words, these “builders” are supposed to build into people so they become “builders” as well.
Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. (Ephesians 4:14 NIV)
This building process makes us all stronger in our faith; giving us the tools we need to better navigate life. The struggles we face do not change, but we change. So, we handle the struggles with more ease.
Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. (Ephesians 4:15 NIV)
This process, builders building new builders, is described in many places throughout Scripture. The process, like the picture, is designed by God. The Psalmist acknowledges this by thanking God for “the path of life.”
You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever. (Psalms 16:11 NASB)
How about you? Do you see the process? Do you see yourself in this process? Where are you in the scale from “infant” to “mature”? Are you being built up into Christ? Are you building builders?
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