May 7, 2011

Building For Eternity

Thank you Lord.  For everything You've done. For everything You're doing. And for everything You're going to do. Even when I don't see the things You are doing I KNOW that You are very busy, pulling all of the puzzle pieces of our lives together to make that perfect picture.  You even take the time to give us encouragement and confirmation all along the way.  You always give me what I need to read or hear exactly when I need it.  Today's devotional from My Utmost for His Highest.  .  .  .

Which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it . . . —Luke 14:28
Our Lord was not referring here to a cost which we have to count, but to a cost which He has already counted. The cost was those thirty years in Nazareth, those three years of popularity, scandal, and hatred, the unfathomable agony He experienced in Gethsemane, and the assault upon Him at Calvary— the central point upon which all of time and eternity turn. Jesus Christ has counted the cost. In the final analysis, people are not going to laugh at Him and say, “This man began to build and was not able to finish” (Luke 14:30).

The conditions of discipleship given to us by our Lord in verses 26, 27, and 33 mean that the men and women He is going to use in His mighty building enterprises are those in whom He has done everything. “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple ” (Luke 14:26). This verse teaches us that the only men and women our Lord will use in His building enterprises are those who love Him personally, passionately, and with great devotion— those who have a love for Him that goes far beyond any of the closest relationships on earth. The conditions are strict, but they are glorious.

All that we build is going to be inspected by God. When God inspects us with His searching and refining fire, will He detect that we have built enterprises of our own on the foundation of Jesus? (see 1 Corinthians 3:10-15). We are living in a time of tremendous enterprises, a time when we are trying to work for God, and that is where the trap is. Profoundly speaking, we can never work for God. Jesus, as the Master Builder, takes us over so that He may direct and control us completely for His enterprises and His building plans; and no one has any right to demand where he will be put to work.


10 comments:

  1. Following you via GFC from the Surfin' Saturday Hop! http://www.smileyboyknowsbest.blogspot.com

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  2. Tamara, I'm so glad you stopped by to link up for our Super Mega Hop @ Lucas's Journey w/SPD.

    http://lucasjourneyspd.blogspot.com/2011/05/super-mega-7-weekend-blog-hop-and.html

    Thank you so much for sharing our hop with others! I added your hop to our list of Saturday hops. Thank you for your warm wishes, and I want to extend the same for you. I hope you have a wonderful and blessed Mother's Day!

    Sincerely,

    Debbie
    Lucas's Journey w/SPD
    http://lucasjourneyspd.blogspot.com
    http://www.facebook.com/lucasjourneyspd
    http://twitter.com/#!/lucasjourneyspd

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  3. Love the rule - "Worship Him Always!" SO important! Thanks for linking up for Friday Feedback this week - great to meet you! :)

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  4. Thanks for your visit to my blog, you're kind to even leave a comment. :) Yes, I have read My Utmost...but it's been several years, I should read it again. I plan on checking you out here now and then. Have a good day!

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  5. WOW! Wonderfully inspiring blog! I found you from the hop! Check out my blog if you can! http://www.gbedwright.blogspot.com/

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  6. I'm linking up with the hop and looking forward to reading more posts! Your photo header is absolutely beautiful!

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  7. I love it that you are doing a blog devoted to worshiping Him!

    I found you off of “I love my online friends Monday hop” from last week. I was hoping to play this week, but no party was thrown. I just became your newest follower. If you would like to return the favor I’m leaving a link to my blog below. I am looking for new friends to exchange comments with.
    Cheers,
    Shanae

    My Blog

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  8. I look forward to reading your blog. Love Oswald Chambers.

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  9. Thanks for hosting this great hop!

    ~Jodi
    www.magicalmouseschoolhouse.com, where Disney IS school

    P.S. We're hosting GIVEAWAY Wednesday today!

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  10. New follower from "Who in the World? Wednesdays" I really enjoy reading your site!

    Lori
    http://chroniclesofacrazymom.blogspot.com/

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