Have you ever gone to sleep feeling totally isolated from your brothers and sisters in the Lord Or, after a church meeting, have you ever gone home feeling more like a member of the "lonely crowd" than the Body of Christ?

One partner became distressed and asked the Lord, "I hear about unity and closeness, but I don't feel it. Where is it?" He replied to her, "YOU help Me build it."

How, By building positive relationships through words...by reaching out and bringing down barriers brick by brick, word by word, no matter how someone appears outwardly.

Jesus Himself set the precedent for this. When the (future) Apostle Nathanael first heard about Jesus he said, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" But with one sentence Jesus melted his heart, saying, "Behold, an Israelite in whom there is no guile." Nathanael immediately declared Him to be the Son of God. What a dramatic change...all accomplished through words! Yet you, too, are one of God's urgently needed builders. As Paul says:

"...let us consider and give attentive, continuous care to watching over one another, studying how we may stir up...to love and helpful deeds and noble activities: Not forsaking or neglecting to assemble together (as believers), as is the habit of some people, but admonishing - warning, urging and encouraging - one another, and all the more faithfully as you see the day approaching" (Hebrews 10:24-25, AMPC).

God is calling you to be a builder. Sleep well tonight with the joyous expectations of your new opportunity.

Heavenly Father, instead of feeling isolated in the Body of Christ, make me a builder of Your Kingdom. Give me words of encouragement and love with which to reach out and draw the shy and the lonely to You to strengthen Your Kingdom. In Jesus' Name, Amen.