“God treated me with undeserved grace and let me become an expert builder. I laid a foundation on which others have built. But we must each be careful how we build. (I Corinthians 3:10 Contemporary English Version)
Before I start, so that you will not misconstrue what I am about to say, especially after reading the opening verse, know that each one of us who are saved have benefitted from God’s grace. Without a multiplicity of examples, I can say explicitly, “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” And let me add more, so that no question arises about my mother, the primary person who I will refer to in this meditation. Momma was a saint, saved by grace through faith, and she demonstrated by her service, diligently taught as a servant, devotedly parented as a Christian mother, and was a definite faithful partner in marriage, adhering to the scriptural advice for wives. Furthermore, she demonstrated that we were not saved to sit, and while we are not saved by our works, people of faith work. Now, I’ll get started.
In my garage there is a round table top, about eight feet in circumference. It is leaning against the south wall. When you pull in the garage, you cannot avoid seeing it. Wednesday morning I took a closer look at this table. My mother created it while she was home bound, and pretty much chair bound. As I got closer to the table top, made of plywood, but decorated with small pieces of broken ceramic, the first thing I thought of was the times that God will let us experience some brokenness, but He will build us back up to serve a great purpose for Him; make us useful. We all have a purpose in God’s kingdom, and that “we” includes you. Let the Lord use you.
The second thing I noticed about the tabletop was the number of pieces it contained. I did my best to calculate the number of broken pieces, using multiplication skills to come up with an estimate of 4,000 pieces. I do not know how long it took her to build it, but there is no doubt in my mind that it required much labor with great patience. Whatever you are working on, depend on God, and be patient as you labor. Your patience will pay off as you stand back and smile, and you realize that love is patient, and patience is required in all we do for the Lord, whether at home, at church, or in the various spaces and places that we journey through in life.
Let me complete this with a third thing that came to my mind as I stared at the 4,000-piece tabletop. My mother was one of the first members of the church that I have pastored since 1990. She played an important role in the educational ministry. She had been devoted to building her skills for as long as I can remember, never ceasing to learn more of the bible, and effective teaching techniques. I have continued building on the foundation that she laid in my childhood, being careful in what I was building. After I take on another role in October of 2025, my son will take over the work of continuing to build the church I planted, as led by Christ and approved by my home church in Indianapolis. I am sure mother knew one of my five boys would take my place one day. So, soon, the oldest of the five will be given the responsibility of patiently leading, building, and adding one piece after the other, to our local body and to the universal church.
Isn’t God good? A definite, “Yes!” goes right here! Now, note that you need to be good to our good God, serving Him faithfully at your church. There are some broken souls that need to be brought in to make sure they are secure in the body of Christ. Today, make a decision to keep working on our project, piece by piece, recruiting disciples, one by one, and retaining them in the kingdom by teaching what the Lord has commanded us to teach. I’m praying for you!
By the way, the 4,000-piece tabletop is stored in the garage because my fourth oldest son asked me to keep it for him. However, now I found out that the primary reason it was stored there was to share this meditation with you. Be inspired by just knowing that God has chosen you like the He chose Elisha to continue the His work. Be further inspired by knowing that God is opening up a pathway right now, for you to cross over to do a great work for Him. Don’t worry believer! God’s Spirit is with you too and see to it that you are one who is ready to continue with all carefulness, building God’s kingdom here on earth. Have a great day! Be blessed!
“Elisha picked up Elijah’s cloak, which had fallen when he was taken up. Then Elisha returned to the bank of the Jordan River. He struck the water with Elijah’s cloak and cried out, “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” Then the river divided, and Elisha went across. When the group of prophets from Jericho saw from a distance what happened, they exclaimed, “Elijah’s spirit rests upon Elisha!” And they went to meet him and bowed to the ground before him.” (2 Kings 2:13-15 New Living Translation)
Committed to the climb,
Mark L. King