Matthew 7:24-27 (NLT)
24 “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock.
25 Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock.
26 But anyone who hears my teaching and ignores it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand.
27 When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”
How easy it is for many people in this world to tout that the thing to do is this, or the thing to do is that, or something else entirely. We are constantly bombarded by all the things we should or should not do according to one person or another. Why do people have to come up with the newest and greatest way to live and act? Why not just follow and live by what Jesus taught, by what the Bible teaches all through out its writings. Think about what it means to be built or to build on a solid foundation. It means that we, in the Christian sense, are hearers, doers and followers of the Word. The inspired creation of God. All we are asked to to is hear, do and follow or act. Be obedient to the Word and be a practicing follower of the Word. The Bible sums up everything we need to know, everything we need to live and yet we try so hard to dissect it and rehash it into something else and to make up our own ideas about what we should be doing.
1 Corinthians 3:10-11 (NLT)
10 Because of God’s grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful.
11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ.
Our business is not to build quickly, but to build upon a right foundation, and in a right spirit. Life is more than a mere competition as between man and man; it is not who can be done first, but who can work best; it is not who can rise highest in the shortest time, but who is working most patiently and lovingly in accordance with the designs of God.
—Joseph Parker
Not only do I not want to build on sinking sand, but I want a strong foundation to grow from. I am starting to study the Bible more and to implant its words in my heart and mind. So I can carry them with me. I am going to try and listen to what the Bible has to say and apply it to my life. We are put on this earth for a short time. Maximum life span around 120 years, if you are blessed to live so long. We are put here to learn how to live with each other and to grow in such a way as to be an example to those around us and our children. I want to grow slowly and deliberately. I want to build my foundation slowly and carefully. I have started with Psalm 119 and have memorized the first stanza (8 verses). I am taking a stand in my life and striving to grow and change and be what God wants me to be. And that means listening, learning, following and doing. So each day is a new start for me. Each day is a new step for me. Each day brings me one day closer to God and one day closer to being what God wants me to be.
All I am doing is living and learning and doing. I am doing the best I can with what I have. I am learning each day how to be and live and do. I am living each day as it comes. Just doing what I can with what I have. Not anything more than that. Taking the Bible with me and doing what I can to make the most of what it has to offer. I am far from perfect, but I am just doing what I can with what I have and being who I am and allowing God to work in me. That is all we are expected to do, follow God and allow Him to work in our lives. So that is what I am doing. That is all I need to do. Stay uncomplicated and build on the strongest foundation in the world - Jesus Christ.
Really nice post Marc. I think we forget to trust in God and lean on him for support. We tend to want to do it all ourselves. But God is the firm foundation we should put our hope in. Thanks for the reminder.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Rebecca