Careful Building!

By Sheila Jacobs

I love the spring – it’s my favourite time of year! It holds such promise after the cold, dismal winter months. When I see the daffodils nodding their heads in parks and gardens, and the buds on my flowering cherry, I get excited. It’s like a fresh start!

As we move into the gloomy winter months, we can become almost inert. The days lengthen, Christmas comes, and then we face the often-icy months of January and February. We see glimpses of hope as the snowdrops push themselves through the cold earth, but it’s when the birds begin to nest that I think: spring is around the corner!

I have some wood pigeons that regularly nest in my garden; they build such sloppy homes! But the little wren builds in a different way. It makes me think about the way I build things into my own life. Do I build carelessly, or carefully?

Foundations

If we are followers of Jesus, then he is the foundation for our whole lives. He wants – and should always be – first. His commandment is to love the Lord with everything we have (Matthew 22:37) and to love others as we love ourselves (v39). That’s not easy! But loving others should flow from loving the One who made us, who loves us, who calls us into relationship, and makes this possible. Indeed, he made it possible before we ever asked him! This happened when Jesus died on the cross, experiencing the separation from God that we deserve, taking that separation, so that we have access to our heavenly Father. Jesus rose from the dead, mission accomplished, and calls you and me to relationship. We know we’re right with God not because we strive to do good works, but because of what he has already done for us. The love and good works are a result of our right relationship with God!

With that in mind, we can build on a sure foundation. And it’s a step-by-step journey, isn’t it? ‘How can I please you today, Lord, in how I think, and how I act? Can I build patience into my life as I wait in this long queue? Can I build self-control into my life when I want to shout at that driver who cut me up? How can I show love to my neighbour today?’ We need to rest back on the divine Builder for his strength, for he gives us all we need to live the God-life – see Galatians 5:22-23.

Building on that great foundation starts with building our relationship with Jesus himself. How much time do I spend with him during my busy day? It may not be possible to sit for an hour, worshipping or reading the Bible, but do I include him in the minutiae of my life? ‘Lord, thank you for the aconites in my garden; for the leaves that are just about to spring to life on that tree; for my friends, for my family; that you say you have good plans for me, and that when I seek you with all my heart, I’ll find you’ (Jeremiah 29:11-13).

 Walls

Building, as anyone knows, takes time. Jesus warns against building our lives on anything other than him and his Word (Matthew 7:24-29). It’s so easy to build our hopes and dreams on something other than Jesus, isn’t it? But building our lives on anything else – a job, a relationship, a desire – can be like building on sand. Life is transient, fleeting. People leave us; sometimes they want to, sometimes they don’t; and sometimes we leave them. But God promises: ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you’ (Hebrews 13:5). Remember the book of Nehemiah in the Old Testament? The Jews were rebuilding the walls of their city, and it was a long and laborious process. It was also a team effort. Who is walking with you, praying with you, as you journey through the seasons of your life? Do you have a trusted friend (or two) you can meet with (online or in-person) for mutual encouragement and support? If you don’t, why not ask God to show you someone?

One of the most important scriptures regarding building our lives in Christ is found in Proverbs 4:23: ‘Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.’ Guarding your emotional life, your feelings, especially in regards to relationships, old or new, is very wise. If you aren’t guarding yourself, it’s like building without checking whether the ground is firm, or balancing bricks without using cement!

Conclusion

Spring is the time of new life. Jesus, of course, came to give us new life, a life lived in him and for him. He himself is the life – the very life of God (John 14:6). As we put him first, walking into a new season, we will begin to see the budding of his blessings; sometimes they may seem very small, but we can be sure as we walk with him, he will work in our lives what he has already planned for us.

I hope this spring brings new hope and opportunities. But let’s watch our foundations and take care of our walls! Strong foundations can withstand storms. Following Jesus means trusting him, even when we don’t understand; and to trust someone, we need to spend time with them. Building relationships takes time. How can we build more of Jesus into our lives?

All scriptures NIV 2011 (UK)

Sheila Jacobs is single, a writer, editor, retreat leader and mentor. She is an award-winning author of 19 books, including A Little Book of Rest: Walking Out of Anxiety and Fear (Malcolm Down).