Learning to Build

I remember learning how to build things. I would watch, as my dad would assemble the tools and the materials. He would layout the plan and ponder over it. When I first looked at the plan I could not understand it. It was far beyond my comprehension. He would start to measure and cut and all I could do was hand him tools as he asked for them. He would have to describe them to me because I didn’t even know which one was which. I would watch him use each one. I would pay close attention to how he handled it and how he worked with it.

As the parts began to take shape I could see how the thing we were building resembled the thing on the plan. There was always a point in each project where I was baffled as to how the thing would get from where it was to what the finished project looked like on the plan. I still lacked understanding of how to build.

I remember that as I grew older I was allowed to help in more ways. At some point my dad would hand me a tool and ask me to take my turn. I now had a saw in my hand and was expected to make the cut. I would begin to get nervous. The pressure was on. I tried to handle the saw the way I had seen my dad do it but I would cut crooked. I waited in fear of reprimand but instead my dad would remove the piece of wood and then show my once again how to cut it. As I went through a bazillion mistakes, I eventually learned how to use each tool. With experience I learned to read the plan.

I look at my life now and I see my heavenly father taking me through this process once again. He has shown me a plan, which I do not understand. The end will be beautiful but I am still clueless as to how we get from here to there. The tools are both familiar and there are new ones I have no experience using. I have made plenty of mistakes using these tools. Each time I do He gently removes the ruined part and shows me once again how to use the tool.

I am serving a master builder. He laid His son as the chief cornerstone of the project I am working to build. He made the plan, prepared the work, selected the tools, and is overseeing the entire project. I am being allowed the privilege of participating in building according to the plan.

As I first began to work for my Lord I was always nervous about what I was doing. Just like that kid who first picked up that saw I was afraid of the response I would get for that first crooked cut. I soon realized I was building according to His plan and He was training me to be a builder. He knew it would take practice to learn to use these new tools. He was always watching to correct any mistakes I made and to allow me to try again until I learned. He is great at correcting mistakes.

The plan I am participating in is an incredible project. It is way more than I could ever hope to comprehend when I first started. Now that I am older and I have some experience with the tools and with reading plans, I am beginning to see the finished product. I must admit that I still do not fully understand how we get from where we are to the finished product. I still, at times, feel like that little kid staring at the parts my dad had cut and the plans that we were working from and wondering how the next piece fit.

To Be or Just to Claim to Be – That is the Question

Are you a Christ follower? Are you His disciple? Do you talk the talk or walk the walk? Here is how Jesus determines those who are His disciples.

A love for Christ that surpasses your love for anyone or anything - "If you want to be my disciple, you must hate everyone else by comparison—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple.

Suffering in service - "Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.

Sacrifice - So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own.

Obedience is a must - Jesus said to the people who believed in him, "You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings.

A love that shows - "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

A true disciple of Christ will be busy about making other Disciples of Christ according to the pattern outlined above. We don’t have to guess if we are a disciple. Jesus tells us we can know if we are His disciples.

This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

In today’s church in America the teaching of Christ has changed to accommodate the culture. How can we expect people to give up all material possessions in such a materialistic world? How can we obey all the teachings when so many run in contrast to our culture? How can we be expected to make other disciples? Why should we suffer in this country when we have so much?

The simple truth is that Jesus made the rules and they have not changed. He did not say here are the rules for now and I will give you other rules later. The way to follow Christ has not changed over time. The way the church teaches many to follow Christ has changed over time. Who are you a disciple of – your church – or Jesus Christ?