In 1 Corinthians chapter 3, Paul wrote:
9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building.
10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it.
11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,
13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.
Who won the World Series in 1961? It doesn’t matter. Who won the Super Bowl in 1972? It doesn’t matter. What does matter is what we are doing for the Kingdom of Our Heavenly Father and who we are affecting with HIS Love. The foundation which has been laid is the Love of Jesus Christ, the One Who redeemed us from death and destruction. This life filled with the fruit of THE SPIRIT and ministering life to others is what matters. We are called to be fruitful and be instrumental in others’ lives.
I have seen FATHER do great and mighty things in the past. Has HE changed? No. HE has been preparing those who have set aside every weight that would hinder them from walking fully in HIS power and authority. They have set their eyes upward to receive from HIM, not for personal consumption, but for ministering to all the world.
Straw or stubble is what is left after the fruit, it any, is removed. It is like a “carrier” of the fruit, similar to words. Your words carry a message just as this writing conveys a thought for you to ponder. This word comes from the same word meaning “reed”.
Matthew 11:7 And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?
Was John’s doctrine tested by the wind and was it able to withstand the test of time? Yes, of course. All of our idle words will be burned up by fire as well as all of our pointless acts and ways. Gold, silver, and precious stones will remain for they will endure the fire. Let our words and our acts be testimonies, not ashes.
Today is the day when we should place our focus on the deeper aspects of what is really important in our lives. The time of meaningless acts and preoccupation with the worldly things is over. People are more important than things or events and we should each be promoting life in whatever capacity we are walking in. Who can we positively affect? The next person we encounter. We should expect FATHER to bring us in contact with those in need of what we have to offer.
I want FATHER to remove all the wood, hay, and stubble in my life. Let me be as a burnt stone used to build the wall in Nehemiah’s time. A burnt stone is still usable and it even has unique characteristics. Just as the three Hebrew children were placed in the fiery furnace and the Fourth Man appeared and sustained them, let Jesus Christ baptize us not only in the Holy Ghost, but with a fire that will sustain us in the times ahead! FATHER, bring forth the fire!