Ephesians 2:19-22 – “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.”  NKJV

I am by no means a Master Carpenter especially in finish carpentry and sometimes that bothers me greatly.  I will see things that could be or need to be done but lack the necessary skills to satisfactorily complete the task.  I am always impressed by and have a deep appreciation for fine craftsmanship and am intrigued by the transformation of buildings at various stages of development.  It is exciting to see things like that come together.  The Pyramids of Egypt are, to me, an architectural wonder.  Every rock fits perfectly into place and each of them hewn to do a specific job and fit a specific location.  No rock, once chiseled, could fit any other location.  That is Fascinating!

That is exactly what God wants to do in our lives and His church.  God is desirous to fit us into His church as LIVING STONES.  Notice in verse 21 of the text, “In whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord…”  What kind of stones are used to be a temple or even a huge pyramid?  There are big stones, little stones, odd-shaped stones, and they are “fitted” together to fit perfectly.  What a picture!  Our Lord, the Master Builder, orders the stonemasons to chip away at each rock UNTIL it becomes a perfect fit in the perfect place it is to be placed.   That is another subject we overlook, the placement of us as living stones and our refusal to stay where we have been placed.

In this picture, the little stones must be content to fill the gaps.  The big stones must be willing to endure the stress and responsibility of supporting the structure and the other stones.  The odd-shaped stones will need to be patient, waiting for the right spot and service to be determined.  But ALL as living stones are ‘FITTED TOGETHER’ to form the building. 

The LORD has or is choosing the exact spot for each of us.  Some of us may be placed beneath the surface and not be visible and never noticed providing our strength so the foundation is strong and the building stable and functional.  A prime example of that would be the intercessors.  Some strive for recognition and I warn that we must never crave to be the cornerstone.  Without the proper corner, the building would be unstable and eventually crumble and that spot is reserved for Jesus Himself.

I read a report some time back taken from statistics some companies conducted to determine the reason for the high turnover rate being witnessed in many fields.  That report indicated that 80% of people working full-time were dissatisfied with their jobs. 

That is reflective of what I’ve observed about people in general.  Many are dissatisfied with life. Some are unhappy because they want more.  Some want to do more to feel productive and some want to do less so there will be less stress and others are continually searching for new opportunities to satisfy a longing inside.  If that only represented the world it would be bad enough but it is found in the Church as well.  Sadly, many believers never see a clear picture of what their purpose in the Kingdom of God is and therefore become frustrated and that dissatisfaction and frustration affect others and the local fellowship. 

There is a Cure or a Solution in the Bible.  The only lasting cure for this kind of frustration and dissatisfaction is spiritual growth.  I know that is too simplistic and generalized but it gives us a place to launch into the deep from.  In Colossians 1:7-12, the apostle Paul emphasized the critical need to understand God’s will for our lives and then to walk worthy, be faithful, increasing in knowledge and draw from God’s strength in steadfastness and patience.  That is not always easy but is necessary.

There are several things I want to suggest or introduce regarding God’s Solution to Dissatisfaction and Spiritual Frustration in life and the church but will pause here because of time and space and pick up in the next devotional and hopefully offer some thoughts that will be liberating and inspiring. 

God bless you as you enjoy God’s wonderful world today!