Getting ready to go/ Gold and Bronze (by Jeff)

As we prepare to move to Kosovo, it's like our whole life and ministry is under construction. I've been reading the beginning of 1 Kings in my morning devotions. In chapter 6 & 7 it's all about Solomon constructing the new temple. A couple things stood out to me in relation to our lives right now;

       1st) "The whole temple he overlaid with gold"(6:22) Solomon had everything covered with gold. In the Bible gold symbolizes heaven.
       God's plan for us as His people is to bring heaven to earth with our lives. Jesus said, pray like this, "Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." He does it through prayer. So we just want to cover everything completely with prayer-- that this wouldn't be our little attempt to do something for God (we know we can do nothing), but it would be heaven coming down to earth through every part of the construction; that we wouldn't touch it, but it would be God doing His thing and making it golden.

      2nd) Hiram from Tyre a master craftsman "cast two pillars of bronze"(7:15) for the temple. He set up the pillar on the right and called it's name Jachin (He shall establish), and he set up the pillar on the left and called it's name Boaz (In it is strength)." (7:21). In the Bible Bronze is a symbol of judgment. The pillars stood in a prominent place at the entryway of the temple. Always reminding the people of God's perfect judgment as the sun shone off the bronze and at the same time the names of the pillars reminding the people that God establishes and in Him is strength.

        We have a lot of decisions to make leaving here and moving there to Kosovo. Lord, let the pillars be bronze, all our decisions be made in sound judgment. Do not let this be merely a human endeavor but we surrender it all over to You to establish and strengthen. Let us begin and continue in the Spirit. You are the Author. You are the Master Craftsman. We are Your Workmanship, masterpiece created in Christ Jesus for good works which you prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. (Eph. 2:10). Let this be something that You establish and that You sustain.