Thursday, May 28, 2026

           We can use the word “build” in a variety of ways.  It can mean construction of a home or business.  Build can refer to developing physical perseverance or endurance through exercise.  We can speak of building our faith as well.  Psalm 127:1a says, “Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain.”  This verse is often seen as a backdrop for Solomon’s work to build the first temple for the Lord.  And rightly so.  You may recall that David wanted to build the temple but God chose Solomon to build it instead of David.  I have seen this verse quoted a number of times at disaster rebuilding projects and places. This verse is often written on studs, beams and drywall as new homes take shape.  And certainly, we want our homes to be places where the Lord is honored and exalted.  It makes sense to attach God’s Word to our homes as a way of remembering His goodness and many provisions and our weakness apart from Him.
            We can also think of the Lord building a temple of faith within us.  Those who have come to faith and trust in Jesus are the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit—not buildings and palaces.  The Bible says, “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own” (1 Corinthians 6:19).  The Holy Spirit is the Lord living in us and with us.  That’s pretty amazing isn’t it? What is the Holy Spirit building in believers where He dwells?  There are at least a few things we can name.
            First, the Holy Spirit is building our faith in Jesus.  He is developing a bedrock, unshakable, everlasting faith in the sufficiency of Jesus and His death and resurrection.  He is at work to help us walk with Christ more faithfully each day and to cast our cares upon Him. He is good and sufficient always and at all times.  The Spirit helps to cast out our doubts and worries as we see the goodness and holiness of God more and more.  The Spirit continues to remind us of the power of the gospel and the sufficiency of the gospel to save and keep us.    
            Second, the Holy Spirit is producing His fruit in us—fruit like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control (see Galatians 5:22-23).  The fruit that He produces in us is to be lived out by us.  This fruit is to season our relationships with others and our service to Him.  These fruits cannot be produced by us—no matter how hard we may try.  There is no vitamin to take or class to take.  Only the Lord can make and produce this fruit—if we try in our strength, we simply labor in vain.
            Third, the Holy Spirit gives us His gifts for serving the Lord and building up the Church of Jesus Christ.  Spiritual gifts are not talents.  They are special gifts or endowments that the Spirit chooses to place within us so we can serve the cause of the gospel with our lives.  Every believer has a gift (or possibly gifts) to use.  The only question is whether we will take time to discover those gifts and then put them into practice.  The Holy Spirit has not left us alone to figure out ways to serve Christ.  He has equipped us with what we need to bless others and to serve Him.  The Lord does not limit His call and ministry to those who have it all together.  He equips and qualifies those whom He chooses to call. 
            Fourth, the Holy Spirit helps us to understand Scripture.  He builds within us a knowledge of God’s Word and a love for that Word.  He helps us to understand the Bible and to live out God’s ways.  The Spirit helps us to pray.  The Bible says, “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans” (Romans 8:26).  When we struggle with even how to pray for something, the Spirit goes to work to translate our groans into petitions to the Father. 
            When we think about the message of Psalm 127:1a, we see the totality of what God has done for us.  He has saved us through His Son’s death and resurrection.  He equips and provides for us each day through the presence of His Holy Spirit.  He never abandons us or forsakes us.  He has written a beautiful story for His people that brings glory to Him as we live by faith and trust in Him.  Consider today what the Lord might wish to build in you. See where the Lord might be stirring a need in you to trust Him and to lean into Him.  Trust the Lord to build an enduring house of faith in your life—a house that lives as a legacy for your family, friends and future generations to see.  Have a great Thursday!