build up – Moment to Moment (Bible blog)

Building each other up

In this passage, we see a lot of instructions Paul gives the church, particularly concerning the use of the gifts of tongues and prophesy.

These instructions are important, but if that’s all we see, I think we’re missing something.

What is Paul’s main point?

His main point is that in the church, we should not be primarily thinking about ourselves and building ourselves up. Rather, we are to think of others and how to build them up.

Again and again, he talks about building up the church. But he’s not talking about building up the church as an organization. He’s talking about building up God’s people. For God’s people are the church.

Paul essentially says that when we go to church, if all we’re thinking about is if we’re being built up, we’re thinking like children. (1 Corinthians 14:20)

So many people come to church saying, “I want to be built up. I want to be encouraged.”

I hope you are built up and encouraged at your church. But Paul tells us that each person should bring something to build others up. (1 Corinthians 14:26)

So if you’re going to church this week, look for someone you can build up. Intentionally reach out and touch them. Encourage them. Pray for them.

And if you can only attend an online service, think of someone you can call or do a video chat with. Again, be intentional about it.

Let us be a church where we intentionally touch and build one another up.

The message of God’s grace

Often times, we think of the message of God’s grace, namely the Gospel, as merely something that leads to our salvation. But while that’s true, it’s something more.

Paul told the Ephesians this:

And now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance among all who are sanctified. (Acts 20:32)

What happens when we believe the gospel? Two things.

It gives us an eternal inheritance as children of God. Put another way, it saves us.

But it not only saves us. It also builds us up. And that is not a one time thing, it is a daily thing.

A lot of times when we get discouraged in our Christian lives, it’s because we have forgotten that message of God’s grace. (By the way, “word of grace” can easily be translated “message of grace” in this verse).

We forget that we don’t have to earn God’s love. We already have it.

We forget that we don’t need to work for God’s approval. We already have it.

We forget that Jesus paid the price for our sin, and so we beat ourselves up as if Jesus’ sacrifice wasn’t enough for us.

We never outgrow our need for the gospel message. So let us never let the message of God’s grace slip our mind. And let us both rejoice and rest in it each day.