As we continue together in this conversation on foundations, let's re-visit a familiar passage of Scripture where Jesus' words invite honest reflection and action steps:
Matthew 7:24-27 (ESV) “Everyone then who hears these words of mine [Jesus] 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. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”
My ESV Study Bible gave a helpful analysis of Jesus’ parable. This parable brings Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount to a close (Matthew 5-7). Jesus is calling his listeners to make a choice.
Are they going to choose to follow Jesus or the religious establishment of their day? He is drawing a line between Himself and any other foundation established by a group or culture. He identifies Himself as distinct, set apart from all others. To quote the ESV Study Commentary, “Disciples who build their lives on the bedrock of Jesus and His message of the kingdom of heaven are truly wise, regardless of the shifting cultural or religious fashions [governments]” (Matthew 7:24-27; page 1834).
Webster’s Dictionary defines bedrock as, “1: the solid rock underlying unconsolidated surface materials (such as soil) 2a: lowest point b: basis (“the bottom of something considered as its foundation”).
A moment to reflect:
- Right now, are you a disciple of Jesus who is building your foundation on the bedrock of Jesus (the lowest, strongest point of a foundation), or are you adding building blocks that reflect the culture you're surrounded by?
It may help to consider your daily thought life - what emotions do you wrestle with most, what are your persistent fears/uncertainties, what are your familiar anxious and worrisome thoughts, what does your self-talk sound like?
For each of those reflections, what does God's Word say to those specific emotions, fears, uncertainties, anxiety, worries, lies, behaviors? Find specific Scripture verses.
Make it a personal challenge to memorize some of those Scripture verses and daily ask the Holy Spirit to help you build with those truth blocks.
Just as Jesus was asking His original listeners this question, let us ask ourselves today - What daily choice are you going to make?
Continue on with us this week for this three part blog, as we visit Jesus to see what He has to say about the importance of our foundation.
-By Nancy Martin; an excerpt from For Such A Time As This: Walking Through Crisis
*A moment to reflect is added for this post
Comments