« As the LORD spoke to David my father, saying, Your son, whom I will set on your throne in your place, he shall build a house to my name. » (I Kings 5:5)
A father owned a small shop in town. He wanted to teach his two sons something about developing a good work ethic. So he tore down the front of the shop and bought a truck load of bricks. After teaching his sons the basics of brick-laying, he said he’d pay each son $200 to rebuild the front of the store. So the boys started out. Their efforts were thwarted time after time by careless mistakes, bad weather, and lack of discipline. But the worst for these boys was the constant harassment by their friends for doing what they considered a stupid enterprise. Nevertheless, the two boys finished the project and received their reward. The oldest of the two, Will, would go on to become one of the hardest-working and highest paid actors in Hollywood.
Did you know that God once told Moses that He was NOT a man that He should live in a house made of stones and mortar? Yet one day King David decided to build a permanent structure for God to live in. As silly as that idea may appear, God loved it. Though David never actually built the house himself, his vision for a temple became his son’s calling. On the day the Temple of Solomon was dedicated, the presence of the Lord filled it to such a degree that the priests couldn’t even stand up to minister.
God loves to build things; He put that same desire into the hearts of men. God built our material dimension in creation, then built a Garden. Noah built an ark. Abraham built a tribe. Moses built a nation. David built a unified country. Jesus said: « I will build my church.» Our Lord declared that He came to earth for only two reasons. You decide if Jesus was successful: 1) Die as a sacrifice for the sins of humanity; 2) Build His Church.
Jesus’ death was an absolute success, capped off with a spectacular resurrection from death. Jesus did far more than succeed in dying for humanity. He went above and beyond all expectations. What about the second task? On this one we have to ask ourselves a very important question: What is taking so long? Why does it seem to be so hard? Jesus’ death on the cross took a few hours, and his resurrection just three days. He’s been working on the Church now for 2 millennia!
Though we may not have answers, Jesus continues his work; and He will finish it, in order to present His glorious church, without defects, to His Father. If we surrender fully to the work of Jesus today, He can catapult His church into high gear faster than anyone can imagine. But His people must commit to being the House, and accept their assignment in the house as given by God, not choosing only what appeals to them personally. If we are the house of God, we must also accept that His judgment starts with us.
ACTION POINT: Rid yourself of indifference to what God is doing with His church. Free your soul from criticism you have towards His house.
PRAYER TARGET: Allow God to make you a functioning brick in the house of God, sealed by the mortar of His love and grace.
Jeûne de Daniel 
A builder always has to sort out his materials to build a QUALITY edifice, accepting some and setting others. I don’t want to be « set aside! » During this Daniel Fast, let us seek to become ACCEPTABLE to the Lord! This word appears a couple of times in the New Testament : « As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices ACCEPTABLE to God through Jesus Christ. » (1 Peter 2:4-5) Also, Romans 12:1 – I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and ACCEPTABLE to God, which is your spiritual worship.
J’aimeJ’aime