The Royal Order of Edifiers, Part 1

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. Ephesians 4:29

If Jesus is your Master, model Him. Scripture says, “It is enough that a servant should be as his master.”

Acts 10:38 gives a succinct summary of the life of Christ: 
“God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good…”

There is your prototype, your template for life. Pattern your life after Him. “He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked” (I John 2:6).

Jesus seized opportunities to build people up. He was an edifier. In the word edification the root word for edifice can be heard. An edifice is a building. The process of edifying is the mission of building up.

Even on the eve of His execution He comprehended the mood of His disciples and said to them, “Let not your hearts be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in Me.” (John 14:1) He built them up. 

If Jesus is your exemplar, then do as He did.

Are you a people builder? Or, are you a member of Satan’s demolition crew?

“I watched them tearing a building down,
A gang of men in a busy town.
With a hove-heave-ho they swung a beam
and a side wall fell.

I asked the foreman, “Are these men skilled?
The kind you would hire if you wanted to build?”
He replied, “No indeed,
common labor is all I need,

For I can wreck in a day or two
What it takes a builder a year to do.
I thought to myself as I walked away,
Which of these roles am I trying to play.

Am I worker who builds with care
Carefully measuring life by the rule and square.
Or, am I content to walk the town 
Content with the job of tearing down.”

Are you a wrecker or a builder? When people see you coming do they feel, “Wow! Here comes an edifier!” Or, do they look for a back door?  You know the kind of person, they brighten up a room just by walking out of it. 

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if when people walk away from a contact with you feel edified, built up? Jesus Christ said, “You shall be My witnesses….”

Your speech makes you a good or a poor witness. As His ambassador what you say and do reflects on Him. Ideally, it should be a commendation of Him to all who encounter you.  Are you a member of Satan’s demolition crew or Christ’s developmental school? Join Him in edifying individuals daily.