”Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat— for he grants sleep to those he loves.“
Psalms 127:1-2 NIV
“In vain you ….”, is what came into my mind this morning,before I sat down for my brief early morning devotions before going to church. On Palm Sunday! And after being led to write abut the “ big picture” in the weekend blog yesterday.
And then, having searched for the words in my Bible app, the full picture to which the Lord was directing my attention emerged in the words of this very familiar Psalm. That “ unless the Lord builds the house , the builders labour in vain”. Going to worship God and return to this message later.
So I’m back home after breakfast, reading the newspapers and watching a bit of tennis with my wife …Coco has really lost her groove…….and I recall what stayed with me this morning at church. What it really means to have the Lord build the house! Part of it means to have a “ troubled spirit.”. A quote from the introduction to The Act of Penitence, which begins like this: “ Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you…..”
The full introduction: “. The sacrifice of God is a troubled spirit, a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise”. And a “ troubled spirit” is what the Pastor was driving at in the early morning sermon on RJR, at 7:15 am which I heard before I left home when he posed the question. Rev. Omar Morrison of The First Missionary Church – thank God for podcasts,I was able to listen again. He began by highlighting the importance of self -examination. Physically in respect of cancer, and more importantly spiritually. As it can be a matter of life and death! We are called upon by Holy Scriptures to “ test ourselves”, to “ examine ourselves”. The he quoted 2 Cor.13: 5
”Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?“
2 Corinthians 13:5 NIV
And then highlighted the need Christians to be more closely aligned with God, as we all have the capacity for self-deceit. And in this context to test ourselves. For if we are born again, as Jesus told Nicodemus, which is the requirement for calling ourselves Christians we need to test ourselves in respect of our attitude to ; Sin, Prayer, The Bible, attending worship service after Covid, other Christians, how we relate to others at home and at work and in the community.
All of which, and the pastor elaborated on all of these issues, leads us to the matter of having a “ troubled spirit”. That we need to, test ourselves, and repent continuously before a holy God, for what we have done and left undone. This is the true work of the Holy Spirit building the temple of God, in which He lives in us. A troubled spirit and not a “ satisfied” self-serving spirit – which may very well be self-deceiving and assuring us of being born again and working for Christ, when nothing is further from the truth. And thus the land mourns because the church is ineffective in its witness, its mandate to be “ salt and light”, doing good works and calling a nation to repentance.
Truly then “ in vain we rise up early and stay up late”, unless the Lord builds the house. With a troubled spirit and a broken and contrite heart! The ultimate response to the “ Mighty Salvation” wrought on Calvary on Good Friday, by the Lamb of God who was without Sin, and died for me “ the vilest offender”, who once was lost and now I am found, was blind but now I see. Me, in whom this Christ, “ the hope of glory lives”, in those with a troubled spirit who cry out to him night and day. For mercy! For self and for all who we know. Passion Week, which Palm Sunday heralds, and which ends with the glorious resurrection on Easter, ought to cause us pause and reflect and ponder on the goodness of God. And how Jamaica will be rebuilt. With penitential tears!
https://youtu.be/y81yIo1_3o8?si=76vcUfwL_M3cEvvD
Lord renew thy church beginning with me; Lord renew thy church that the church may renew the nation(s) where sinful mankind is brought to tears. And cries for mercy!
In obedience
Shalom
LWJ
danielgodsurelywilldeliver 