Foundations

Daily Reading:  Luke 6

Scripture Focus: Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great. (Luke 6.47-49)

Devotional Thought:  When I was saved, my pastor started me on a weekly Bible study with him that I kept up even after his study was over.  I loved God’s Word and still study it now, fifty years later.  That is my foundation along with church attendance and prayer.

Many people today, however, don't know what a stable life is.  Divorce, disease, drugs, death, and delinquency have left them without a foundation.  When we talk about building our lives on the Rock, they don’t know what we are talking about.

I’m not sure how we can approach people like these with the Gospel.  We must not simply blame them and give up.  That would be failing them.  Instead, we must be faithfully involved in their lives as friends.  Yes, they are needy and sometimes demanding, but we must be patient and show them over time what it means to build their life on the Rock. Can we do less?  We know that storms will come to them (or continue coming to them!) and that they are at risk of ruin.  Will you help someone build their life on the true Foundation, which is Jesus Christ?

Fran Ginn

Prayer: Lord, I thank you that you have revealed yourself as the true Foundation on which I can build my life.  Whether I have been building for decades or am just beginning to build, help me to share your hope and stability with others.  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: 135.15-21

15 The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of human hands.

16 They have mouths, but do not speak; they have eyes, but do not see;

17 they have ears, but do not hear, nor is there any breath in their mouths.

18 Those who make them become like them, so do all who trust in them.

19 O house of Israel, bless the Lord! O house of Aaron, bless the Lord!

20 O house of Levi, bless the Lord! You who fear the Lord, bless the Lord!

21 Blessed be the Lord from Zion, he who dwells in Jerusalem! Praise the Lord!