“In Him [and in fellowship with one another] you also are being built together into a dwelling place of G-d in the Spirit.”
Ephesians 2:22 AMP
Vance and I are just starting the process of designing a home. Having made the decision to stay close to my parents and build on their property, we’ve been in planning mode which is both terrifying and fun. There’s something about the process of dreaming and planning that instills hope. We’re starting to imagine what the future will look like for us with an empty nest appearing as a shadow on the horizon. And, with our dreams and blueprints in mind, this verse takes on a special meaning in my heart.
I can’t help but think about our last home and all of the work we put into it thinking it would be our forever home. We leveled the foundation, knocked out walls, and gutted the kitchen. It was grueling and expensive, but the outcome was worth the dust. Though we thought we had found our forever home, G-d had other plans, plans beyond my wildest dreams.
In each of our previous moves, we adapted to whatever house we lived in, often getting rid of furniture, and finding creative ways to design and organize in order to make the “house” feel like home for our family. However, this time when we make our 13th move, we will move into a home, a place designed intentionally, for us, and by us, with our future in mind – from our fully extended dining room table that will seat our adult children and their families to the days when we will need accessible rooms, bathrooms, and hallways should my parents move in with us as they age. I feel a great sense of anticipation knowing that we will finally unpack our suitcases and boxes for good. I know we will finally be able to settle and truly be home. Canton is stuck with us it seems.
The Greek word used in this passage for “dwelling place” is katoikētḗrion which means abode or habitation – the place where one lives. In other words, G-d has a blueprint for each one of our lives. He is actively and intentionally building each of us to be a place where His Spirit dwells and lives!! And He already has a master design and blueprint in mind! Ephesians 2:10 says it this way: “For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us].” Ephesians 2:10 AMP
May we not lose hope in the process of being built in Him. The struggle, pain, and opposition we feel is nothing more than part of the process, and what He’s building will be more beautiful than we can imagine.
Father – thank You for what You are doing in our lives. Give us grace to endure. You are good and You keep doing good. Your leadership in our lives is perfect and You can be trusted. Amen.
Daily Reading: Ephesians 1-6
December 16, 2022