It is my long-established habit to read my Bible and talk with God at the start of each day. Whilst always beneficial, this can be more rewarding on some days than others. Today was one of those times when I felt especially close to him. Before turning to prayer, I was thinking about a particular phobia that I have had since childhood, and recalled four separate events that I believe this anxiety has sprung from – I have asked God to free me from this. Following my prayer time, I went on to read 2 Corinthians 4, which very much encouraged me – a great chapter and worth meditating upon.
Pictures
After breakfast, I wanted to talk with the Lord some more, as there were things that I was feeling especially thankful for. I expressed my immense gratitude for my wife, Jean, and then for how God has led me through my life generally. Two images came into my mind, almost together; the first was of a plant, the second a portion of a building.
I felt that the Lord was showing me that there are things that he has planted within me, that have grown and come to fruition in the area of understanding and conviction; things of faith that I have become soundly convinced of and embraced. The section of building was a small area of masonry, mainly similar bricks, but with a darker, different-looking stone built in. I felt that the Lord was showing me that he had been building things into my life that needed to be there for me to fulfil his purposes.
Interpretation
These images apply to my own life, but also to every dedicated follower of Jesus. It may be that God has sown seeds of understanding within you that have been growing to become something fruitful, maybe already now, or perhaps yet to come. Seeds need a conducive environment if they are to germinate, and then for the seedling and plant to grow. God is looking for a harvest from us and will certainly sow the seeds, and even water them and provide the nutrients that are necessary for growth, but they still require a positive environment if they are to flourish – we need to embrace the work of God within our lives; to provide the warmth and exposure to the light.
The brickwork image is slightly different. This relates to our experience of life. Just as some early events caused the phobia that I referred to, so God takes us through many different experiences that make us the person we are. They may be tough times that teach us about his faithfulness, or they can be our own mistakes, from which we learn of our need to trust him more completely. There may be events that have helped us to appreciate how God works through us. Every born-again Christian has a testimony of where we have depended upon God and seen his provision, in whatever form; hopefully in various contexts and a great many times as our lives have gone on.
Building
Each of these construction elements is a part of the building that is “me”. If we are dedicated to God, then he is the architect of our building; there is a plan and purpose for how we are being moulded and formed. Buildings take time to erect and equip. Jean and I built an extension to our house a couple of years back. A builder did the structural work, which took several weeks, each brick, lintel and joist being added one by one. But, even when these were put into position, the surrounding mortar needed time to solidify and then to cure to create a firm bond and become a part of a robust structure. Similarly, within our lives, we may take time to appreciate the value of particular experiences, or for them to become firmly embedded into our sense of who we are. Once the external work of our house extension was complete, there was a great deal for me to do before the erected shell could become a part of our home. Once we had begun to occupy the new spaces, there were finishing tasks to be undertaken before the whole project could be said to be finally completed. We are each a work-in-progress. Even on our dying day, God won’t look at us and see a completed work, but he might have cause to say: “This is as far as I was able to go with this one”.
Determination
Let’s be those who determine in our hearts to recognise, and positively nurture, what has been planted within us by the Holy Spirit, saying “Yes, Lord” to his plan and purposes for us. Let us also place the events of our lives, that are shaping who we are, into the hands of the master builder to locate them correctly within the building, according to his design.
The title of this post is ‘How have you been moulded?’. The idea of moulding is a biblical version of what we have been considering – see Romans 9:21 and 2 Timothy 2:20-21. God is in the business of moulding us, which is his work in us, but we get to decide whether to embrace or resist his handywork. Let me leave you with Ephesians 2:10: “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (ESV).