the foundation is just the beginning

The Foundation|Just the beginning

We are currently in a great season as a church and student ministry! Everyday our new building is taking on new shape and form. I love going over and checking out the progress. Putting on the hard hat and bright orange vest reminds me that things are moving along - a building is rising out of the ground. I love how much seeing that building take shape reminds me of the things that God is doing in our lives as individuals, as He grows us and prepares us to take the shape that He has destined for our lives.

I have been reading through the minor prophets (Hosea through Malachi) recently. The other night I was reading through Zechariah and something stuck out to me:

Zechariah 4:6-10 (NLT)
Then he said to me, “This is what the Lord says to Zerubbabel: It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the Lord Almighty. 7 Nothing, not even a mighty mountain, will stand in Zerubbabel’s way; it will flatten out before him! Then Zerubbabel will set the final stone of the Temple in place, and the people will shout: ‘May God bless it! May God bless it!’ ”

8 Then another message came to me from the Lord: 9 “Zerubbabel is the one who laid the foundation of this Temple, and he will complete it. Then you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me. 10 Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand. For these seven lamps represent the eyes of the Lord that search all around the world.”

Here are a few things that I love about this passage of scripture:

First, we are reminded that it can be in our own strength to complete the work that God has destined for our lives. The truth is that it will take WORK. For some of us, that thought might be scary. But the simple truth is that it does take effort - focused work - to complete the things that God has called us to. Here is the point though...it is not finished or accomplished through or by our own abilities, gifts, talents, strengths, possessions, fame...it is accomplished through God's strength - through the Power of the Holy Spirit.

Second, I love that the Lord reminds Zerubbable (through the prophet Zechariah), that nothing can stand in the way of accomplishing and finishing the things that the Lord has ordained (or purposed) for him to do(see verse7)! The truth is that we often face opposition in life, but nothing can withhold God's will and purposes from being accomplished! That is exciting to me! Even in the hardest times, if there are big mountains standing before me - if God has called me to it - He will see it fulfilled.

The last thing that I want to point out is the fact that God has completion in mind. I am sure after years of just seeing a bare foundation in place, that Zerubbable was concerned - even doubted if completion will ever take place. But God says "Then Zerubbabel will set the final stone of the Temple in place "(v. 7) and "Zerubbabel is the one who laid the foundation of this Temple, and he will complete it. Then you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me. Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin"(v. 9-10). We at times may feel like we just have a bare foundation. Maybe we have started moving forward in our walk with Christ, but something feels like it is undone, not complete. We need to remember that God will complete the work! The foundation is just the beginning!

God told Zechariah "Do not despose these small beginnings". Even if what you have feels like it is "small" and insignifigant - through God's hand and His strength it can be built into something GREAT. The work that God is doing in you, the dreams, visions, goals, desires - even if they feel small - the will become great as God continues to fulfill His purpose in your life.