Pastor Mike’s Garage June 10, 2021

*Pastor Mike’s Garage-June 10/21*

“Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise
wisdom and discipline.” Proverbs 1:7 NLT

I’ve been thinking a lot about foundations lately. Not because I’m
intending on building any kind of structure. Earlier this spring I was
asked by a friend of mine to perform the wedding for his son and fiancé. We
are just about to start getting together to do some pre-marital
counselling. I’ve been challenged in this because I want to give them the
best shot at a successful marriage. I’ve been challenged in this because I
don’t want to just create some busy work, but rather give them some actual
tools and strategy that will enhance their relationship. I’ve been
challenged in this because I’m not sure I have much to offer, in knowledge
or as a role model! I’ve been thinking a lot about the growing pains and
joys of the last eight and a half years of my marriage. As I look at a
myriad of resources on healthy relationships, my own limited knowledge and
experience, and think about the advice offered to me throughout the years,
I have boiled down what I want to offer them to just one piece of advice.
Get close to God!

I read an interesting verse this morning in the book in 1 Kings that
also made me ponder what kind of foundation I am laying, both in the advice
I am offering this young couple and in my own life as well. It is found in
the account of Solomon building the very first Temple for the Lord. 1 Kings
6:7 “The stones used in the construction of the Temple were finished at the
quarry, so there was no sound of hammer, ax, or any other iron tool at the
building site.” I pondered what it must have been like at that construction
site, to see a massive, majestic temple being erected in utter silence!
I’ve been on a couple construction sites in my day. They are not
particularly known for their quiet peaceful atmosphere. Quite often the
workers themselves are not particularly known for their calm reverent
personalities! I’m assuming that the reason for building it in this way was
the extreme reverence the people of Israel had for their God, that even in
the construction process this was to be a place of quiet reverence.

As I was thinking about this, I started looking through the bible for
the word foundation and came across these verses in Ephesians. “So now you
Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along
with all of God’s family. Together, we are His house, built on the
foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ
Jesus himself. We are carefully joined together in Him, becoming a holy
temple for the Lord. Through Him you Gentiles are also being made part of
His dwelling where God lives by His Spirit.” Ephesians 2:19-22 I’m familiar
with the concept of me personally being the Temple of the Holy Spirit, but
I’ve never thought about us a Christian community collectively being that
Temple and what that might look like. In light of our interconnectedness
the thought comes to mind, what kind of foundation piece am I personally?
What does your piece of the Temple look like? Like it or not, we all affect
each other!

Maybe I’m a bit naive in my role in this young couples pending
marriage, but I don’t want to be just a hired gun that gets the knot tied.
I want to take an active role in their lives trying to encourage them along
their life journey. In some ways thinking about trying to offer anyone else
advice on marriage has made me ponder my own and try and make sure it’s
also healthy! This thought process is also applicable to my journey with
you, my fellow Christians. I want the best for you, and in trying to offer
any help or advice, it makes me ponder what kind of piece of the Temple am
I personally! We’re all in this together!

Pastor Mike