by Pastor Doug Brauner

The Hands of the Master Restorer.

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

Is this boarded house a work in progress or on it’s way to being leveled?

There is no question that this house has seen better days but will it always remain in this state of disrepair? It’s either on it’s way to be marked for reclaimed wood or to becoming something new.

The same is true with us. We are either growing in our relationship with Christ or we’re becoming distant from him. Our relationship with Christ cannot remain static for long.

“Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.” 
Ephesians 4:15 New Living Translation

Paul refers to the church, you and me, as a living organism that is growing into our head, Jesus Christ. This growth is constant. When we look at this house there is still potential. It might be that the boarded up windows will once again be fit with new glass panes.

It might not look like the Holy Spirit is active in our lives. We might see all the work that still needs to be done. God is working. He is relentless in his shaping of our character.

I’m not saying that this will be an easy process. If you owned this house you might not know where to begin. What are the critical needs that must be addressed first? Your God knows you, he knows where to begin work. He knows the critical needs of your life.

In all of this, it’s important to remember that every “house” is of value to God no matter the condition in which it is found. You are important to God. He sees you as a loving work in progress.

The day is coming when his work will be complete, when we will stand as a perfect house before God, not this side of eternity, but when we stand before the Master Restorer.

Until that day, may we not loose hope as God is still at work in our lives.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado