Samuel D. High
sdhigh@aristotle.net
-----Original Message-----
From: "Apostle Tom" <pressingon@hotmail.com>
Sent: Fri, 10 Aug 2007 18:01:44 -0500
To: pressingon@hotmail.com
Subject: Morning Manna (Aug. 11); BP: Eph. 2:11-22; RBTTY: Rom. 11:19-36; Ps. 81-83
August 11 “Fitly-Framed and Firmly-Founded”
“Now, therefore, you are no more strangers and foreigners, but
fellow-citizens with the saints and of the Household of God—and are built
upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being
the chief Cornerstone. . .in Whom all the building fitly-framed together
grows unto a holy Temple in the Lord, in Whom you also are built together
for a habitation of God through the Spirit.”
Ephesians 2:19-22
He is the Rock upon which we stand and the Reason for which we live.
The story is told of a man passing by the place where a large cathedral
was being built. As he watched the laborers going about their tasks, he
stopped one of them, who was carrying hod (mortar for the stones) and asked,
“What are you doing?” The worker, straining under the heavy load, scowled
and said, “Man, can’t you see? I’m carrying this stupid mortar!” and went
on about his business. Shortly thereafter the stranger asked another
hod-carrier, “What are you doing?” and the worker smiled and said, “Why,
can’t you see? I’m building a cathedral for my God!”
Oh, dear Pilgrim, which one of those two workers more resembles us in
our daily walk of faith? The one who fretted and fumed under the load or
the one whose “load was light,” his work worthy and fit for a King? Today’s
Manna reminds us of who we are in Christ and how the God of the universe has
seen fit to make us both a member of His Family and the “House Church” in
which He dwells. Glory!!
Some have taken the phrase “and are built upon the foundation of the
apostles and prophets” to mean that the Church is built upon them—i.e., a
type of “apostolic succession.” However, the real intent is that we are
built upon their “labors of love in the Lord” and the type faith they
exhibited (Heb. 11:32-40). Another way to look at it is like that of a
relay race: They were faithful in running their “leg” of the race (Heb.
12:1c). . .have passed the baton on to us . . .and now it’s up to us to
also be faithful in our “Pilgrim’s portion” lest succeeding generations
suffer because of our unfaithfulness.
The Apostle Paul clearly points out that Jesus Himself is our “chief
Cornerstone.” Anyone familiar with building knows the cornerstone is what
literally holds the building together. Although there’ll be other materials
that help strengthen the structure (e.g., nails, r-bar steel, etc.), the
fact remains that it is the cornerstone that ensures the stability of the
building.
And, so it is in God’s “Habitation of Faith.” Christ is the One Who
helps us to be “fitly framed together (Grk. ‘sumarmologeo’—‘to render
closely-jointed together, organize compactly, etc.’).” Simply put, Jesus is
the One “in Whom we live, move and have our being.” And, it is His
“Grace-glue” that binds us together, transforming us into a living
“organism” instead of a lifeless organization.
This is what Paul had in mind when he wrote “in Whom all the building
fitly-framed together grows unto a holy Temple in the Lord.” We know 2x4s,
nails, brick and mortar are inanimate objects and do not grow; however, in
Christ we are “living stones built up into a spiritual House” (I Pet. 2:4-5)
and the “Temple of the Holy Spirit” (I Cor. 3:16). Hallelujah!!
May the Holy Spirit help us today to make sure King Jesus is the One
sitting on our heart’s throne. May He also help us pursue lives of holiness
lest we bring shame to our Savior’s Name and trod underfoot His precious
blood by which we are transformed into His Household of faith and Holy
Temple.
_________________________________________________________________
Booking a flight? Know when to buy with airfare predictions on MSN Travel.
http://travel.msn.com/Articles/aboutfarecast.aspx&ocid=T001MSN25A07001
No comments:
Post a Comment