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I. GOD IS OUR BUILDER. If we climb some high hill near the sea on a fine day, we behold on one side hills and valleys; and on the other the tremendous ocean stretching to the horizon. Then we feel that our Father is a grand God to make such things. There are great buildings which men have erected, but there is no building which is so great as the splendid planet on which we live. But far more wonderful than the world is the body of man; but a grinder thing still is the soul, which God created to dwell in. It appears as if He had given to the soul of man a portion of His own almighty power. Does not the Scripture say, "Ye fight against God"? We have power to say "No" to the Almighty! But there is something far grinder and more precious still — it is the new spirit which is breathed in every man who believes in Christ. This is Godlike.

II. GOD HAS FURNISHED A PLAN FOR THE BUILDING — the life of Christ. It is the best life and nobody can improve on it. The Lord does not mean us to copy His style of garment, or to eat the same sort of food, or to be put to death on a cross. We are to copy His character.

III. GOD HAS ALSO GIVEN A FOUNDATION FOR THE BUILDING. "Christ Jesus." Then, we are to believe His words and to build our actions thereon. Jesus is our foundation for the knowledge —

1. That God loves us as our Father. We are to live from day to day feeling certain of that.

2. That Christ lays down His life for us. So we are to rest upon Him for forgiveness.

3. That in Him are all things necessary for our peace. Build on Him, then, for all circumstances of trouble.

(W. Birch.)

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KJV: For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.

WEB: For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's farming, God's building.