The House Is Being Built

‘You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ’. (1 Peter 2:5)

In her late twenties, Corrie ten Boom travels to Switzerland and becomes the first female licensed watchmaker in the Netherlands. She starts to work in her Father’s watchmaker shop in Haarlem. When she walks through the streets of Haarlem in her free time or to bring a watch to a customer, she sees many young girls between 12 and 15 years old, just hanging out on the streets. The church has organized Sunday school for children and confirmation lectures for young adults, but there is nothing organized for teenage girls and boys. So Corrie goes to the church council and says: “If you provide the building I will provide a program for these girls.” The church lets her use a beautiful building and she invites the girls to join her club, offering a variety of activities. Through the years more than 300 girls have participated in Corrie’s clubs. Halfway through the program Corrie always tells them a Bible story and gradually the girls get interested in the gospel because Corrie walks the talk and shares the love of the Lord Jesus Christ in word and deed. Many girls become Christians. The club motto is: “Seek your strength through prayer.” Corrie also starts a boys club. For years she has led these clubs many evenings a week.

Then the Second World War breaks out and Corrie becomes the ringleader of the resistance group the BJ. Many of her club's now young adult girls and boys become part of this resistance group. The house that was already built before wartime is made of young people who are willing to be used as living stones to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

To Reflect upon:
When we are willing to trust and obey the Lord Jesus Christ day by day, He’s able to prepare in the present time, situations for the future. And we will not even be aware of it. We cannot predict or imagine what the impact of today’s obedience can be.

Prayer:
Lord, it sometimes seems so insignificant what we are doing, it even seems at times without visible impact or effect. But thank You that You can work out Your plans through our obedience and surrender. Amen.