The Branch Builds the Temple

And say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, “Behold, the man whose name is the Branch: for he shall branch out from his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord. Zechariah 6:12

Jesus is the Branch.

Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.  In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’ Jeremiah 23:5-6

We are His Temple.

Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple. I Corinthians 3:16-17

We are to be grown by abiding in the Branch. Our fruit can only be obtained when we are growing and abiding in Him.

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5

Am I allowing the Lord to build me? Building takes work, my role is to abide, just as a board of wood abides in a house. It does not tell the builder where to put it or how to do it. It allows the builder to cut it. It allows the builder to arrange it and fasten it to it’s permanent position. So often I know I want to give God feedback instead of just abiding. I try to control the pruning and cutting, the fire and heat. I try to put myself where I think I should be instead of just allowing Him to direct my path, to build me into His temple.