As followers of Christ, we are charged with the delicate skill of building each other up. However, it is sometimes much easier to let our words boil from our hearts like a jackhammer, pounding mercilessly in the ears of others. But what if we approached our speech with the tender touch of a carpenter, using our words to craft something beautiful and build up those around us?

Jesus, the Carpenter’s Son, understood this gentle art. He spoke with a tenderness that calmed storms and welcomed little children. His words were like warm embraces, proclaiming good news to the poor, liberty to the captives and oppressed, and recovering of sight to the blind (Lk.4:18). Let us learn from His example and follow the path of the Builder, using our speech to B.U.I.L.D. bridges of understanding and fortresses of peace.

B – Bless Others with Uplifting Speech “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” (Ephesians 4:29)

U – Understand Needs and Offer Timely Encouragement “The Lord GOD has given Me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary.” (Isaiah 50:4)

I – Inspire Peace through Diplomatic Words “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” (Matthew 5:9)

L – Live Harmoniously by Cultivating a Peaceable Attitude “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” (Romans 12:18)

D – Demonstrate Grace and Wisdom in Speech “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” (Colossians 4:6)

As ambassadors for Christ, our words carry the weight of reconciliation. With each utterance, we have the power to tear down or build up. Let us choose the gentler path, the path of the Builder.

Will you, my friend, use your words as instruments of peace to construct something magnificent for the honor of Christ our Lord, the Master Builder?

At times, God’s commands may seem ridiculous. Why ask Noah to build an ark when no one had ever experienced rain? “Make yourself an ark of gopher wood…” (Genesis 6:14). Or instruct the Israelites to march around Jericho’s walls for seven days to make them crumble (Joshua 6:1-20)? We might think, “God, what’s the point of this?”

Friend, we need to remember that God’s ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:8). He sees the bigger picture that our limited minds cannot comprehend. When we obey His commands, even without understanding the reasons, we open the door to His blessings.

Consider Naaman, the mighty Syrian army commander suffering from leprosy. “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored” (2 Kings 5:10). This was God’s Prophet Elisha’s odd prescription for healing. Naaman also was angry at this “humiliating” prescription. But his servants urged him, “If the prophet had told you to do something great, wouldn’t you have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, ‘Wash and be clean’?” (2 Kings 5:13)

Naaman swallowed his pride, obeyed God’s seemingly foolish command, and “his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean” (2 Kings 5:14).

Similarly, God’s command of baptism in water for salvation can seem puzzling. Yet this is precisely what the Bible teaches as the moment when we are “buried with Him by baptism into death” and raised to “walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:3).

Friend, “And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name” (Acts 22:16).

What do you think of when you read about the Apostle Paul?  He was an intriguing person whose inspired writings are just as relevant today as they were when first written.   Paul was introduced to us as Saul.  Stephen was being stoned to death and this Saul held the coats of those who threw the rocks.  Saul was a highly educated person with all the zeal and drive to push him to success as measured by his peers prior to the great change in his life.  Just two (2) years after the death of Stephen, we find Saul on the road to Damascus with his troop of enforcers to inflict punishment and terror on the Christians of that area.  I am sure we all know that story and the events that followed.

The change from Saul to Paul was a dramatic event.  He never regretted the change.  Luke recorded in Acts 9 the following:

Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. ²⁰ At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. ²¹ All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?” ²² Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.

What a change.  The one thing that is not evident in Paul’s early life is a showing of compassion.  His drive to corral and stop this Christian sect from spreading and to eliminate this movement was fueled by distrust, hate, no yield to change AND his misguided belief that he was doing the will of God.  I imagine his past haunted him throughout the rest of his life.  Was that his thorn in his flesh?

Read the 13^th chapter of First Corinthians and see the complete change in its author. Compassion for people takes precedent over hate.  All the attributes of love are described in a few short sentences. Paul’s faith, hope and love for people was fueled by the faith, hope and love shown him.  On the road to Damascus, only Jesus could have had that effect on Paul.  Jesus can have that same effect on us.  Let him change you.

“Do not fear what you are about to suffer…Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10).

The valley yawned endlessly before Elijah, shadows of discouragement
threatening to swallow him whole. Weariness etched lines around his eyes as he stared vacantly at the dusty sandals on his feet. Wasn’t God supposed to part these gloomy clouds of doubt?

Maybe you’ve found yourself in that same shadowy valley, friend, where hope seems a faded mirage. The challenges keep piling, the way growing dimmer. But take heart! See how the Tender Shepherd tended to His faithful prophet in this dark hour. The path to overcoming discouragement’s grip is clearly marked.

Care. First for the body He gave you. An angel touched Elijah, urging “Arise and eat” (1 Kings 19:5). Our Lord starts by caring for our frail forms through rest, nourishment, and nurturing our physical temples.

Remain. Ever in His presence. God invited the prophet, “Stand on the mount before the Lord” (v. 11). There, through the whispered breeze, Elijah encountered renewal. We too must intentionally remain, through prayer, stillness, and scriptural communion.

Overflow. Let your heart overflow with gratitude. Having restored Elijah’s soul, God reminded him of the faithful 7,000 (v. 18). Can’t you hear the Father’s tenderness? An overflow of thankfulness guides our minds to His countless kindnesses, even amid bleakness.

Walk. Faithfully in your purpose. With perspective renewed, God reminded Elijah of his calling – anointing new leaders (vv. 15-16). Just as He anointed you, placing “good works…beforehand” (Ephesians 2:10). No matter how dim, we must walk in our God-carved callings.

Nurture. An unwavering trust. Elijah’s shoulders grew light as he relinquished control to His Maker’s capable hands. What burden weighs you down, friend? Release it into the King’s able arms.

“Do not fear…” He whispers through the gloom. “Be faithful unto death…” No matter how endlessly the night stretches, joy awakens with the morning sun. “And I will give you the crown of life.”

Like Peter walking confidently on the waves before doubts caused him to sink, we often feel stable and secure when relying on our employment, health, savings, or parental assistance. For a brief while, the ground beneath our feet feels firm. But then, in an instant, it can begin to crumble. The once dependable job is lost. Our health fails. The retirement fund dwindles. Loved ones pass away. Suddenly, our sense of surety dissipates, and panic rises. What will we do when what we’ve always depended on disappears?

In such uncertain times when the world’s promises prove unreliable, we cling to our Heavenly Father’s unwavering P.L.A.N. – a purposeful design to steady us, even as the ground gives way beneath our feet.

Perceive His Sovereignty. When our circumstances rock us, we “perceive” or understand deeply that the Lord remains in control. “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails” (Proverbs 19:21). We seek His wisdom, for “if any of us lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously” (James 1:5).

Lament Our Condition. Humbly we “lament” our fragile state and acknowledge our need for God’s sustaining grace. “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted” (Psalm 34:18). We lay our burdens at His feet, for “He will sustain us; He will never permit the righteous to be shaken” (Psalm 55:22).

Affirm His Promises. We “affirm” or cling tightly to God’s eternal promises, for “the Lord is faithful in all His words” (Psalm 145:13). When the world’s promises crumble, His covenant stands firm: “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5).

Note Christ’s Fulfillment. We “note” or remember that in Christ, we are “heirs according to promise” (Galatians 3:29). We have “an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading” (1 Peter 1:4). No earthly loss can remove this eternal inheritance.

Friend, when the ground shakes beneath our feet, we draw strength from our Heavenly Father’s unwavering P.L.A.N. He has purposed to “steadily love us” (Jeremiah 31:3) through every trial and give us “a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11). By anchoring our lives in His sovereign wisdom, we’ll find steadiness, even when all else falls away.

It’s all too easy to get caught up in a whirlwind of pride, self-centered ambition, and anxiety, especially in a world that often values external success over inner peace. We’re constantly pushed to outdo one another, chasing after recognition, wealth, and power in search of fulfillment. Meanwhile, the constant stream of troubling news and speculation can leave us feeling overwhelmed, making it hard to hold onto our trust in God’s plan.

When pride takes root in our hearts, we become vulnerable to its destructive effects. “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18). The pain of wounded pride can be worse than physical injury, leaving us feeling ashamed and disconnected from the Christ within us (Gal.2:20). This toxic mindset can lead to depression as we get stuck in a cycle of comparison and self-condemnation.

Similarly, unchecked selfishness can erode our ability to empathize and connect with others. “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves” (Philippians 2:3). When we’re only focused on our own desires, we miss out on the joy of serving others and finding purpose beyond ourselves.

And then there’s the constant fearmongering in the media. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6). When fear takes hold, it can paralyze us and shake our faith in God’s plan.

To break free from these harmful patterns, we need to guard our hearts with care. “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life” (Proverbs 4:23). By cultivating humility, gratitude, and a spirit of service, we can shift our focus from ourselves to others.

Friend, will you today live the surrendered life so that Christ can guard your heart?

The Bible often compares life to a race, so I want you to think about this, in a race, the finish line is predetermined, and you make progress one step at a time. The same can be said of life, the “finish line” is “predetermined”, and you progress towards it one day at a time, but what are you running towards?

1 Corinthians 9:24 – 26 (NIV) “²⁴Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way to get the prize. ²⁵Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. ²⁶Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly;…”

Winning a race requires grueling preparation, training and discipline. The apostle Paul uses this illustration to explain that the Christian life takes purpose, hard work, and self-discipline.

As Christians, we are running towards our heavenly reward. Eternity should shape our goals and our lives. Paul gives an example of this when he says, “I run with a purpose in every step” (1 Corinthians 9:26a) Paul was a Purpose Driven runner! He refused to be distracted and he did not just merely observe from the grandstands.

The essential training disciplines of prayer, Bible study, and worship equip us to run with a purpose, to build Spiritual stamina, and to prepare us for eternity. Don’t just turn out to jog a couple laps each Sunday morning. Train diligently towards your faith, your spiritual progress depends on it.

Oh, the stories we could tell of feeling unworthy, unwanted, and undone. The voices in our heads that whisper, “You’re not good enough. You’ll never measure up.” The memories that haunt us, reminding us of our failures and flaws. If Mephibosheth were here, he’d nod in agreement.

This forgotten, lame grandson of King Saul carried the weight of his family’s shame. “What is your servant,” he trembled before King David, “that you should show regard for a dead dog such as I?” (2 Samuel 9:8). Mephibosheth saw himself as nothing more than a stray mutt, undeserving of the king’s notice.

Yet, it was to this broken man that David uttered the most unexpected words: “Do not fear, for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan” (2 Samuel 9:7). Can you imagine? The king, reaching out to the outcast, embracing the unworthy.

Friends, this is the heart of our God. “The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who hears say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price” (Revelation 22:17).

No matter how unworthy you may feel, Jesus declares, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). He doesn’t demand perfection. He says, “Come. Drink freely.”

Oh, that we would respond like Mephibosheth, bowing low and marveling, “What is your servant, that you should show regard for a dead dog such as I?” (2 Samuel 9:8). For when we come to the King in our brokenness, we find ourselves royally welcomed.

Will you accept His invitation today? Come to the waters of baptism and be washed clean by the blood of the Lamb (Revelation 1:5). Friend, why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’ (Acts 22:16). For in Christ, the unworthy become the beloved.