Nougat 2

As servants of God, we each have the opportunity to gift others who cross our paths. Today’s Holy Nougat helps us to identify ways to do so.

“But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit,” Jude‬ ‭1:20‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The act of physically building something takes time. It’s not an overnight or one day activity. And there are several tools we require to make the building safe. In the Caribbean region, we trend towards concrete buildings strengthened by steel, although there are still several wooden buildings around.

Having the sand, cement, steel and water is fine; but those on their own do not a building make. There’s need for tools to anchor the pieces to the ground and of course we must have a blueprint which guides the the building team on rooms, dimensions and floor plans. Most times, the person who prepares the blueprint is not the one who clears the ground; is not the one who mixes cement, ties steel OR connects bricks with mortar.

When building a person, it is also a community effort. We know that God is the true Architect, Who prepares the blueprint for our salvation. While we are not necessarily in possession of the entire blueprint, God uses our gifts and skills to help bring individuals into fulfilling their purpose. It is therefore important that we are attuned to the True Architect, Jesus Christ, Who knows the plans He has for us (Jeremiah 29).

For when we are in tune with God, we will use the right tools for the building up of others. This is where the power of God’s Spirit comes in. Remember, Romans 8:26 says that when we don’t know how to pray, God’s Spirit takes over. Inasmuch as this relates directly to our lives, it also applies to how we build others up. And, as part of the Godhead (ie the Trinity); God’s Spirit also has access to the blueprint that makes for building others up.

When we speak, we have the power to speak life (or not) into the person in need of building up. Sometimes it seems that they don’t need it. They may be followers of Christ, and in positions of spiritual leadership so it doesn’t seem necessary. Or they have resources that give the illusion that there’s nothing that they need. Perhaps they have offended us sufficiently that building them up is the furthest thing from our minds. And again, that’s why we need to be attuned to God’s Spirit. For God’s Spirit can and will nudge us on the way to speak.

How have we gifted others recently? Are we building up with the Spirit of God, or have we broken others’ spirits?

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May all we seek be found in Christ