Foundation

What foundation are you building on?  When we see houses we may see different foundations under the houses.  The foundation is the most important part of your house; without a good foundation you could run into some very severe problems, depending on where you live.  In our world we have all kinds of weather conditions to cope with from tornados, earthquakes or typhoons, to flooding and other conditions and even excessive amounts of snow.  So, if you are going to build a house you want to make sure it is built on a good foundation, one that will stand up to the weather conditions that you may face.

In the spiritual realm, we have to be careful how we build also.  We can build our house on our own efforts and achievements and our own abilities and talents, or we can let the Lord help us build our house.  

Jesus teaches about building your house on rock or sand in Luke 6:46-49, “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say? Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock. But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great.”

As Christians it is very important to live our lives according to the Word of God!  The most important thing is not whether you study the Word, or even have it memorized; the most important thing is whether you are living what it says.  The Word of God will change your life but only if you live and practice what it says.  I heard a story quite a while ago about a preacher who went to a boys house quite often to visit him and one day he noticed that the boy was reading the same verses over and over again.  So the preacher asked him, “Why do you read the same verses over and over?”  The boy replied, “Until I learn to live these ones then why should I go on.”  This is my version of the story because I can’t remember exactly how the story went, but I think it is very close.  But the lesson is very important one.

People study the Word for different reasons but if you want to please God and grow in your Christian walk then you will need to apply what you read to your life and do what is says.  Read what it says in James 1:19-26 about this, “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.”

Anger, unless it is a righteous anger, is in many cases futile and causes more harm than good.  Read what the Word says in Proverbs 5:1-2, “My son, pay attention to my wisdom; lend your ear to my understanding, that you may preserve discretion, and your lips may keep knowledge.”

I can’t stress enough that we need to live the Word by example and not just talk about it and I am speaking to myself also.  I am far from perfected in this but I need to strive to be and so does every other believer.  Something to think about!  May you have a super day and may the good Lord bless you and yours!!