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Architect: One who designs and supervises the construction of buildings or other large structures.

Builder: One who builds; one who develops or gives form to according to a plan or process; create.

Many years ago (more than I want to admit) I was in the construction business: block laying, carpentry, superintendent, but was mainly in the residential concrete business. When working in all phases of construction, you have to be able to read blueprints. If you can’t read and understand them, you will fail to correctly do your job. In turn, your work may not pass inspection or worse, the building may suffer structural damage in the future.

For many years I had a misconception concerning my part with my daily walk with the Lord. I didn’t have the attitude of living life on purpose for a purpose. I mainly read my bible and prayed for direction. Most of my life I lived passively. I let my career and financial life suffer all for the sake of waiting on the Lord. I lived mostly in the wishes and dreams realm and not the action realm. Both are important and both are needed to fulfill all God has called us to do.

Paul wrote in Philippians 2:12 (KJ) :Wherefore, my beloved… work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. The word work in the original language means: to accomplish, by implication to finish, fashion, cause, do, perform, work (out). This is a strong action word. Clearly we are to participate in our own life after salvation. Adam Clarke writes in his commentary on this subject, “We must be workers together with Him, that we receive not His grace in vain; because He works in you, therefore work with Him, and work out your own salvation.” We are not to be passive in our walk with Christ as I was for so many years.

Let me bring this back around to “The Architect and the Builder”.

Fortunately, I’ve had a change of perspective in my career and financial life. I now see my life like a builder builds a house.

Building a house all starts with an architect having a thought or picture in his mind of the final product. He then with a team, starts implementing his thoughts by creating blueprints or plans. After the plans are complete with every detail drawn our, they go to a builder. The builder starts the process from the ground up to build the architect’s vision.

One thing I didn’t see on the construction site was an architect. The architect did his part with vision and plans. He may occasionally consult on the project but he doesn’t grab a hammer and nails to work on the house. The builder does the work with the detailed plans to complete the project.

We as Christians can use this analogy to help us complete the call on our lives. We know that God has work for us to do. Read what the Apostle Paul told the Ephesians: “…. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.” (Ephesians 2:10 Message) We also know that He has already laid out good plans for us. (Jeremiah 29:11) These plans are written on the tablets of our heart. (2 Corinthians 3:3) It would do us well to spend more time listening to the desires of our heart for out of it flows the springs of life. (Proverbs 4:23) Listening to our heart, in part, is listening to God’s plans for you.

God is the Architect.

We are the builder.

Too many Christians are falling short of God’s best because we haven’t read the Architect’s plans.

What about you?

Where are you at in respect to “working out your salvation”?

Are you a passive bystander or a builder?

If you want to learn to be a builder, here are some steps to take.

Commit

Decide today you will do what it takes to be a builder. You will need this in your spirit because it will take some work to shift your mindset. Your mind will still want you to be passive but your commitment will help you push forward.

Listen

Set a daily time and place for you to get alone with God. Make it a time of reflection, intimacy and study. Don’t get stuck with the idea that your time alone with God will look and feel the same every time. Some days just read the bible, others days pray and listen. Be flexible and enjoy your time with God.

Write

Writing is a gateway to your heart. So write down your desires, passions and visions. Write on a grand scale as if the whole world was yours to create with a pen. Be completely vulnerable to your own desires. There are no boundaries or rules when you write. It’s not about grammar or spelling, it’s about opening up the floodgates of freedom in your life.

Remember that this is a progressive learning process. In time you will begin to see the Architects plans. It will be up to you to implement them and create the life God has called you to live.

Now go and get your nail bags on and start building.

What can you do to implement God's plans for you?

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Andy

"'Winging It" from Stan Smith

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