God’s people-building is still rising.
The 21st verse reminds us that God is not finished yet.
21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. (Ephesians 2:21–ESV)
The foundation is long laid. The cornerstone is resting firmly upon that foundation. The whole structure is joined together and we call it the church. Look at the verb of this sentence. It follows that second comma: grows.
God’s people-building is not finished yet. I am not finished, your great-grandchildren who likely have not been born are yet to come if the Lord tarries. The Holy Spirit is living and active calling men and women from their strugglesome earth-ways. He will do this until God says enough and closes the door on his great temple project.
Note: even the living are not finished but growing. The living are not as holy as God will make them, but they are being made. They are progressing. We do well to look at our own lives and see the spiritual progress. Look at the lives of others and scout for similar things among them. Let your gaze drift above the big sins and the startling things and pick out a good thing here, a good thing there. Recognize God’s role in it. Thank him for it and then tie it back to verses like Ephesians 2:21 where we can see that God is not finished yet. The structure of the church community is joined together. When joined it grows into a holy place for God.
When you spark on the inside over the downfalls of others:
- Pray for them.
- Quench the sparks by acknowledging their incompleteness.
- Treat your spark generator by asking God to help you not expect completeness.
- Ask God to help you avoid judging them because they are not perfect…yet.
- Thank God that he can lead them to perfection.
- Thank him that you can recognize the need to avoid judgment.
- Thank him that your own personal shortcomings are yet being worked on by God.
See how prayer and right-headedness can upend toxicity in the church? By turning your sparks to spiritual advantage the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.
Richard A. Ulrich, MD says
This passage is an excellent reminder that as unique (albeit small) members of God’s Kingdom, we each have an essential part proportional to our faithfulness and obedience. Romans 12 emphasizes this perspective. In the current “Explore the Bible” series, Joseph’s brothers abused and rejected him. It took years before Joseph understood that his brothers meant it for evil, but God for good. Even in conflict, we best exhibit our contribution and importance in serving Christ by “not being weary in well doing.” [Gal 6:9] After all, “patience is the queen of virtues.” RAU