PLAN OF THE DAY
I respect those who built before me and I will verify their work. I will ensure my foundation is secure — at work and in my faith.
READ EPHESIANS 2:20–21
”…built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.” (ESV)
The Green Tag
When you walk out onto a platform fifty feet in the air, you are betting your life on the work of the scaffold builders — men and women you might not even know. You are trusting that they leveled the bases, locked every pin, and secured every cross-brace.
We communicate that trust through the tagging system. A green tag signed by a competent person means the scaffold has been inspected and is safe for use.
But a green tag doesn’t mean you stop paying attention. Before you climb, you look. Are the base plates properly supported? Are the braces in place? Has another trade removed something to route a pipe or make room for their work?
We trust, but verify.
Our faith has a similar structure. It is built on a foundation laid by others — the apostles, the prophets, and generations of faithful believers who came before us.
Sometimes we over rely on the work of others. We rely on the faith of our spouse, the prayers of our parents, the teaching of our pastor, or what we learned growing up.
Those people may have helped build the scaffold. Be grateful for them. You cannot survive the high-pressure storms of life standing on borrowed faith.
At some point, you verify the work and it becomes your own. You have to know what you believe and why you believe it. Thank God for the people who helped build your faith. Then check your own connection to the Rock.
Faith in Action
Witnessing through our work means living these principles where we stand. Here is how you can apply this devotional today:
For the Laborer and Apprentice: Read the Tag
The Action: Before you load a scaffold with material, read the green tag. Make sure it is current and properly signed. Look at the scaffold yourself. If something doesn’t look right, don’t climb until you understand why.
The Witness: Respect the work of those who came before you, but take responsibility for your own safety.
For the Journeyman: Respect the Structure
The Action: If the scaffold interferes with your work, don’t remove a brace, tube, or component yourself. Get the scaffold team involved. Make sure any modification is properly inspected and the tag updated before the scaffold goes back into service.
The Witness: Your work affects people you may never meet. A craftsman leaves behind work that others can trust and verify.
For the Foreman: Defend the Builders’ Work
The Action: If you see someone altering a scaffold without authorization, stop the work. Pull the green tag and get the competent person involved before anyone climbs again.
The Witness: Build a culture where a green tag means something. Protect the standards that allow people to trust and work together.
Prayer
Lord, I thank You for the men and women who build the platforms I work on and for the faithful believers who built the foundation of my faith. Christ, You are my Cornerstone. Forgive me for the times I have coasted on the faith of others instead of pursuing You myself. Give me the wisdom to examine what I am standing on — in my work and in my faith — and the courage to act when something isn’t right. Amen.