1 Corinthians 3:9-15

More than a decade ago I was given a very clear vision of the Master Builder and His ongoing plans for man. We were given many personal choices in His plan...the house we lived in, the work we would do, the colors of our world  BUT they would all lie within the parameters of His love for us and for others. He would provide us with the talents and skills we needed and it was up to us to use them for His glory...He loves us so!

I have studied under many Holy Spirit inspired ministers in the 18 years since I was baptized with the Holy Spirit. I was granted a period of about 2 years that He took me through the entire Bible and let me see, smell and hear it in the physical...it was an awesome, life altering experience and it is the singular event that changed me into filtering all people through the lens of His love. It also made me vulnerable...It has taken a long time for me to realize that not all who say they are Christian, in truth are fully matured, we can get burned by them if we don’t use His lens for viewing situations.....but He loves them still and because of Him so do I. We who believe are refined and made into the image of Christ through the fire of the trials and tribulations that mold us in this life. We are all an ongoing work of His love.

Only God draws unbelievers to Himself. It is our responsibility to do our job no matter what the results, for God will reward us for our efforts and the quality of our work. Paul had established the church at Corinth on the foundation of Christ. Gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw: These building materials refer to the quality of work done by the Corinthians, and possibly also to their motivations or the kinds of doctrines they taught. Fire proves the quality of gold, but it consumes wood, hay, and stubble. Some “good work” is actually self-centered aggrandizement. The true value of such “service” will become obvious to all in the day of God’s judgment.

1 Corinthians 3:9-15

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. ¹⁴ If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. ¹⁵ If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.