I Kings 6-7 "Made by God"

April 14th, I Kings 6-7

       Craftsmanship. Those who are skilled in their labor are an inspiration. The idea from today's text that blows my mind is from chapter 6 verse 7..."In building the temple, only  blocks dressed at the quarry  were used, and no hammer, chisel or any other iron tool was heard at the temple site while it was being built." It gives extra weight to the idea "measure twice, cut once." It's a long way back to the quarry if you don't get the stone shaped right the first time.
       Craftsman who can shape stone without lasers, diamond blades, and all of our modern conveniences. For those in the trade, and inspiration indeed.
       Seven years were spent building the temple. Quality can't be rushed and taking the time to do something spectacular is worth it. There is certainly debate in our world about how much church buildings should cost. I certainly could argue with others that the money could be better spent somewhere else in God's Kingdom. God wanted this temple to be of spectacular proportion. Something that inspires awe, and awe that creates a silence in God's presence.
       We've all been in one of those kind of sanctuaries. A place where you feel like whispering is the way to speak with one another. The ceiling is high, the stained glass larger than life the lines that draw your eye upward are powerful, and might I add...intentional. The makers of these sanctuaries invite you into the almighty presence of God almighty and there is awe. A feeling that is right and true.
       Current church architecture wants ceilings to be lower, seating to be in the round and feel closer. We want to feel welcomed, part of a body, warm, close to each other, close to God. I can't argue with that either. That God is near, he knows my name, he is... God with us.
       In some moments we should be reminded that he is near. In some moments we should be reminded that God is larger and more powerful than anything we could imagine. That the quality of life matters more than the quantity, that craftmanship is truly inspiration and used of us when the Bible says we are God's workmanship. He's handcrafted you and I.

"Made by God." I pray that's the sticker on your life and mine!!