A couple driving past an area undergoing repairs read a posted sign stating, “End of construction – Thank you for your patience.” Immediately the wife turned to her husband to inform him that was the exact engraving she one day wanted etched into her tombstone, for it perfectly described the spiritual process, she believed, each Christian goes through during their time on earth. Thus, upon her death, her husband and famed pastor, Billy Graham honored his beloved wife, Ruth, with her specific request.

Thankfully, as we surrender our lives to Christ, He doesn’t leave us as we are, but immediately goes to work, carefully constructing each of us to the likeness of His Son. In the process, three primary areas of our faith are strengthened:

Fellowship: God’s building materials for His church are His people. We are “living stones” that are bound and work together through Christ for the purpose of glorifying and promoting the gospel and His Kingdom (1 Peter 2:5). Thus, as we grow in our walk, so should our fellowship and care for other believers.

Freedom: God works in our lives to free us from the chains that once held us captive. We are set free by His truth (John 8:32) and the more we build our lives upon His truth, the more free we become from worry, doubt, fear and despair. Naturally, we will all face storms and struggle, but in Christ, we will also grow in a peace that truly surpasses all understanding.

Focus: As our fellowships expand and our pursuit and application of biblical truth strengthens, so does our ability to maintain focus amidst a world of distractions. Our footing will remain stable and therefore, we will be less likely to be tossed around by the waves of adversity, (Ephesians 4:14) which empowers us to effectively engage the various opportunities God sends our way.

Application: “Kingdom Builders” – Nehemiah 6:3
Like Nehemiah, we will undoubtedly discover that when we’re on mission for Christ and undertaking purposeful pursuits, distractions, detours and dangers will persistently pursue us. However, as our faith matures and God’s loving work constructs our foundations and purposes, we too can stand courageously without falter in the face of adversity to complete the Kingdom work He has set before us.