QUESTION TO PONDER:
What have you done when you know someone has done something right?

Observations:
I asked myself in whose COMPANY Jesus was according to v.12?

1. The Spirit

2. Satan

3. Wild Animals

4. Angels

Observations/Interpretations:
I asked myself what role did each play and the significance?

Point 1: The Spirit
I found it very interesting that right after the voice told Jesus, ‘You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased’, 'At once the Spirit sent him out into the desert.'

This is very significant for me because what came to my mind is before the Spirit sent Jesus into the desert; He was built up with love and support, after being acknowledged as His Son, by the Voice. Right after being baptized, Jesus could have been sent to the desert but He was not. Instead, He was built up first with love and support.

To be continued....

Applications/Implications:
I saw important implications for my own life here. I remember when I first became a follower of Jesus Christ, I was built up so much in love, encouragement, and support. I felt so much loved by Jesus. Jesus was helping me to grow in Him. After awhile, the testing began but by then I already felt so loved by Jesus and felt His continued presence in my life.  Once I was built up in the Lord, I was excited to walk in His path. I need to do the same for others what God did for Jesus Christ. Before the Spirit sent Jesus into the desert to be tempted, He was built up by God with these words:  ‘You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased’.

What is interesting is that I can recall time after time when I have been built up with words of encouragement and love, I did not want to disappoint those who showed love and encouragement to me. Even through the hardship, the love and encouragement brought me through. This love and encouragement would not have been possible without the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.

I am so glad that Father God encouraged Jesus in front of the crowds after His baptism with the words,  ‘You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased’.

I realized I need to make building others up a priority because more often than not, the encouragement and love we give others will move them forward in the right direction by God's grace just as it will do in our lives.

Real Life Example:
The times I have been built up with love and affirmation are the reasons that  I am where I am now in terms of serving in different ministry roles at Oakland International Fellowship. This is all the work of the Lord using His people to accomplish His purposes in my life. After a rough time in my life in ministry, I could have been left to the wayside but the Lord used primarily Pastor Hugo, Edwin, Marie, and Rev. Paul Bucknell to build me up and my character in different areas. Even through the mess I had made, the Lord was encouraging me and loving me through His Word and His people. I also remember the encouragement Steve gave me and our small group leader Kristen gave me at the time.

Today, as my wife Chandra and I celebrate our 11-week marriage anniversary, I am reminded of how much she loves me and encourages me in different areas building me up. The more she builds me up, the more desire I have to please her and make her happy. But the key in all this is Jesus Christ as we make Him the center of our lives. When that happens, it will not be about us but about Jesus Christ and how we can glorify Him in our lives. So even if my wife or others don't build me up, the Lord has given me a desire to build others up because of His Word :)

I don't know about you but when I am encouraged and loved by anyone, I want to please them that much more because I don't want to disappoint them. But, I realized in the building up process, I was always pointed to Jesus and the Gospel where the answers to living are laid out. It starts and ends with His grace which is a free gift. So, I don't want you to think just because someone is loved and encouraged, automatically they can start doing good because without the Lord no good can come out of anyone. The love and encouragement are a tools of His grace that are used to work in people's lives but the final work is done behind the scenes by the Holy Spirit in that person's life.

I ask you now dear friend, who will you B.U.I.L.D up today?
Dear friend, we saw how God built up Jesus by using the words 'love' and 'pleased'. We can do the same affirming people when they do things that are right instead of assuming they know that we are pleased with them. A word of encouragement can go a long way especially when we as humans falter time after time. It is through words of encouragement that the Lord Jesus builds up His church where the foundation is the Gospel revealed through His infinite grace that none of us deserve.

Friend, there is someone out there today that needs to know you love them and are pleased with them,  you also know they have done something right but you have not told them. Take this opportunity now to let them know that they are loved and pleased. You will build them up being used as an instrument of the Lord. You would be surprised when that person faces a hardship, your words of encouragement can be used by the Lord to get them through by His grace.

I speak from experience because when I have messed up badly, I could have remained in that state but the Lord Jesus used people like my wife Chandra, my mommy, Pastor Hugo, Paul, Edwin, Marie, Kristen, Calvin, Josh, Steve, etc to build me up.  They were used only as instruments of the Lord but the final ultimate building comes from the Lord through His grace. Instead of focusing on the times I have messed up, I was able to focus on the times I was able to do right as I depended on the Lord :)

This is not to say when people mess up, we tell them how good they are, etc. That's not what I am talking about. Instead of always focusing on the bad things I have done, my mentors actually affirmed me in the gifting the Lord Jesus has given me to use for His glory as He builds my character. I was told His time and His way.

As I look back, I am so glad where I am in terms of Oakland International Fellowship because of how the Lord Jesus used the right people to build my character through the mess I have made.  He continues to use people in my life to mold my character. I want to do the same for others and build them up affirming them in and encouraging them in the things they do well.

You can do the same by building people up in the things they do right, letting them know they are loved and appreciated. As Proverbs states, 'Encouraging words build up..."

When tough times come, those words could be an encouragement and up lifter as they were in my life. It is so important to remember that all good  things come from above so we won't take credit for something that really belongs to the Lord. It is He who uses you and me as instruments for His glory touching people's lives in His timing and way. Thank you Jesus!

I know just these past two weeks, I have been encouraged by my wife, my mommy, Pastor Paul, Pastor Hugo, Heather, Elder Bill, Marie, etc. Thank you Jesus.

To truly build others, we need the Lord Jesus in our lives and understand the magnitude of His grace and what He has done for our lives. May you come to better use Immanuel's love daily!

The purpose of today's devotional was for me to understand the importance of building people up when they have done right.

"Better Use Immanuel's Love Daily!" (B.U.I.L.D)/"Who will you B.U.I.L.D up today?"

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for deciding to identify with humanity though you are God and have all the characteristics of divinity. You asked John, the Baptist to baptize you, even though John felt you should baptize him. You were humble Oh Lord. Thank you Father God for giving me an example of how to respond when someone does the right thing. You expressed your love and how pleased you are with Jesus. You also remind me that your love is not based on the good things I do but even when I mess up, your love is especially there revealing your infinite grace to me. It is your grace that has brought me through and am where I am now. Thank you so much Jesus. You did not wait for me to change my ways but came to me and used instruments in my life of your choosing to build me up. Thank you Jesus. Help me please to do the same. I need your help. Thank you so much Jesus. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

If you would like to invite Jesus Christ into your heart and make Him a daily part of your life, you can this very moment. You will never be alone. You can claim God's promises for you in the Bible and see them come true, before your eyes, in His wonderful timing. You don't have to wait for a special time to come to the Lord. You can come right now as you pray the prayer below, meaning it in your heart.

Prayer:
God I am a sinner. I am invaded by this deadliest virus. Many times I feel so guilty and yucky inside. I need forgiveness. I am so sorry for my sins. I have not obeyed you with my whole heart! I have gone my own way and done my own things. I still struggle with sin. I need you Jesus in my life so I can receive forgiveness and a new beginning. In the process, I can forgive others as you help me to. Thank you so much Jesus. I accept the antidote you have sent me. I believe Jesus you died for me and your cleansing blood will cleanse me from all my sins. You came back to life to save me. Thank you God I am set free, free from the bondage of sin. Hear my cry Oh Lord. I accept you Jesus into my heart. I make you my Lord and Personal Savior of my life. Thank you Father God for giving me Salvation. Thank you Jesus for coming into my heart and making my heart your home. Thank you for living in me Jesus and I will live for you and serve you the rest of the days of my life. Thank you for being my Lord and personal Savior! I can live a life of peace with you on my side. Thank you that you have heard my prayer and answered me! In your Name I Pray Jesus! AMEN!