SOLID GROUND
Richard Harris
Today’s Scripture: “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.” Matthew 7:24-25, ESV
Theme: Build your life on “the Rock,” not temporary, worldly concerns. When trouble comes, you will not be shaken.
THE ROCK
The Gospel of Matthew, Chapters 5-7, gives us the privilege of hearing Jesus’ own words from His Sermon on the Mount. In my own spiritual quiet reflective moments, I place myself at the foot of that hill – listening, along with the disciples, to His teachings. Much of Christianity’s standards of ethical righteousness were born through Jesus’ words that day.
Through Jesus’ moral teachings, we are given guidance in the powerful reminders of love, human compassion, justice, integrity, living well, and the pursuit of being the best versions of ourselves we can be. Jesus may have taught for hours that day, and yet He finishes strong with His invitation through the parable of building upon “The Rock.” As only Christ’s parables can, they serve the purpose of revealing the truth to true believers. “The Rock” is a definite article as opposed to an indefinite article (“a rock”). “The Rock” means that Jesus is indeed the only Rock. Jesus is telling us to build our lives upon His foundation, instead of any other foundation which is unstable as sand. His words should be our foundation upon which all other life commitments are built. When you are tested, upon which foundation will you be standing?
OUR FOUNDATION
What is your foundation? When storms eventually come, where will you be standing? You can choose many different foundations in life, but the one built upon the teachings of Jesus will weather any storm. As Christians, we have used many different approaches to building our lives upon the rock of Jesus, but it basically comes down to these Five Habits:
+Reading Scripture
+Praying continually
+Embracing community
+Practicing solitude
+Worshiping consistently
In the three verses leading up to today’s Scripture (Matthew 7:21-23), Jesus wants us to hear and do His words. He doesn’t want us to spend a life making the mistake of building upon a foundation of sand, being a worker of lawlessness. Today’s verses wrap up His teaching on the Mount with viewing the world through trust and obedience to Him.
Make it Personal: I beseech all of us to listen to Jesus and put His words into our lives’ practice. With just that, we can all stand upon “The Rock” of righteousness.
Pray: God, through Your love, and our faith, there is no storm we cannot weather together. We thank You for giving us such a solid foundation for a righteous life. May we stand firm upon The Rock You have provided; Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who is The Rock upon which we all praise and pray and raise a glorious Amen.
Read: Luke 6:47-49, John 13:17, 1 Corinthians 3:10-11, Psalm 111:10, Job 28:28
Weekly Memory Verse: “They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.” John 17:16-17, ESV