“There is a time for everything . . . a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1,3)
We’re working this week on learning the wisdom of recognizing the seasons God has lead us into. Why? So we can live wisely during those seasons.
These words were likely written by Solomon, whose father King David lived in a time of killing. Israel was at war with several enemies, and David defended Israel by killing tens of thousands. But Solomon’s season as king was a time of healing, and he used that era wisely to make peace with Israel’s neighbors and make the nation stronger still.
We’re called to kill in season, as well. In Colossians 3, Paul tells us to “put to death” whatever belongs to our earthly nature, to literally kill (or execute) our sin. Wisdom demands we tear down whatever plans or dreams we have built on the selfish foundations of sinful desires.
It takes courage to be the destroyer of the worthless things in your life, but if you sit the season out you won’t make room to build – with his power tools – the new life God wants for you.
Think: Do you think God is leading you into a season of tearing down, a time of forcefully removing from your life sinful and worthless things that are getting in the way of living for him? How can you make the most of that season?
Pray: Ask God to give you the courage to tear down anything in your life standing in the way of living for him.
Do: Make a quick list of things in your life that might need to be torn down to make room to continue building your commitment to Christ.