[size=4]Under spiritual construction[/size] Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things – Romans 14:1 [size=3]Have you ever gone across a construction site and notice a building without walls, no roof, windows and doors? There’s not much to look at but huge iron beams and workers riveting and welding together exhausted in the heat of the sun on this building because is being under construction. As time passes, the building changes from a skeleton of iron into a huge building that has decorated walls, windows and doors that is painted beautiful. It looks magnificent! The building itself didn’t change, the workers did. Paul in the verse above was instructing the church in Rome, because Jews from another church will come, and will tell them in order to be Christian they must follow the Law and be circumcised. New converts, who were Jews, were still be celebrating the feasts and following rules and regulations, while others who were mature in the faith, didn’t accept it and had disputes with them. It hasn’t changed ever since because today some Christian’s do follow traditions in the church, however, once they read and study the bible they begin to change their way of thinking on why isn’t what God wants them to do, they will change their lifestyle. The truth is every Christian in this world is under spiritual construction and God is building them as the Spirit works in them. For some, who are in a marriage their might be anger and arguments every once in a while, wife nags pretty much or when their children gives them a hard time and might clamor at them, whereas, there are some who still have uncontrollable urges of their flesh who can’t seem to put off their lustful desires. Envy or jealously, they have developed towards those who succeed while they don’t. Cussing that comes out every once in a while. Still there are some who don’t act Christ-like around unsaved family and friends, but act worldly. We must remember one thing: all of us are being made Christ-like, as we allow the Spirit to do His work in us daily, so it will not take a day. So when a brother or sister can’t understand a bible verse, doctrine, are ignorant, have a sinful habit, gossiping about others, or seems to argue with you, remember one thing they are under spiritual construction. You must come to them in love when confronting them. We must accept them because those of us who are maturing, we were once like them. It didn’t take a day to become the person God made us today, but it took years of suffering, prayers, reading, studying and tears. They might get angry but when that happens we must show them the love of God, have mercy and be longsuffering towards them so they could change. In due time, they will realize they need to grow in Jesus Christ as they learn more about their weakness to allow the Spirit to help them in those areas to change. Christian, think about the person(s) who is under spiritual construction now, who that might be? Is it one of your family members who drives you nuts? Brother or sister at church who hasn’t spoken to you in a while? Is it one of your co-workers who are not living for Christ? Do you have patience towards this person?[/size]