Devotion

The Expert Carpenter
 
Ephesians 2:21-22 (NIV) In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his spirit.
 
Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus, was a carpenter by trade. As was the custom, he taught his craft to his son. I imagine that Jesus had to learn the nature of similar and different types of wood grains, how to care for and treat them in order that they may be most effective in use, what tools were best to use on the wood, how to shape the wood for its purpose, and how to get the wood pieces to fit and work together. Who would have thought that learning and honing the practical techniques of a simple trades man would equip Jesus to be the expert carpenter God assigned to build His church? Jesus knows our similarities and differences. He knows how to care for and treat us so that we can be effective servants. He knows exactly what lessons we’ll best respond to in order to train us up in the way we should go, and Jesus draws us unto Him to fit and work together as one body. Amazing! This just goes to show us that we should never disqualify what we can learn. It’s for more than what it may appear to be! Just ask the Expert Carpenter! He builds people!