A Strong Foundation

In Luke 6:46-49 (KJV) Jesus says "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things  which I say? Whosoever cometh to Me, and heareth My sayings, and doeth them, I will show you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built a house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built a house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great."

In the above scripture Jesus is asking if you call Me Lord, and know who I am, why do you not follow Me, and obey My Word? He is pointing out that there are many that know Him, and are familiar with His word yet they opt not to live righteously.

Jesus goes on to explain that for those who hear His Word, and choose to live by it, He will be their rock, and a firm foundation for them to stand on. He used the word rock in order to convey the message of how solid, strong, and firm He will be for us if we choose to walk with Him. He uses the stream beating vehemently on the house to symbolize the trials, tribulations, and temptations we face in our earthly lives. He assures us in this scripture that if we will put our faith and trust in Him, and choose to live by His word, He will be with us when we face difficulties, and He will sustain us.

Jesus goes on to explain that those who are familiar with His Word, and know who He is, but opt not to live by His Word have a foundation compatible with soil. We know that soil is subject to erosion, meaning it washes away, and is not at all sturdy. Jesus advises that the trials, tribulations, and temptations these individuals face will be their ruin.

There are many people who believe in God, His awesome power, and the truth of His Word, who do not live their life in a manner that reflects their beliefs. Many fear that living the lifestyle of a Christian would be boring, but I assure you nothing could be further from the truth. If you opt to live a Godly life, you will be amazed at the change in your outlook on everything. You will be setting an excellent example for your children to follow and  pass on to their children, and so forth and so on, from generation to generation. 

What's so difficult, harsh, or painstaking about any of the instructions that God gives us in His Word? Is it loving one another, being kind, helping our neighbors, forgiving one another as God forgives us, loving and taking care of our family members, praying, obeying the ten commandments, saying grace, not cursing, knowing we can count on God to stand by us and hold our hand through good times and bad, walking in step with God who promises never to leave or forsake us, receiving blessings, having respect for one another, the promise of eternal life? What are we afraid of? The number of excuses people give are limitless, but none are valid.

We all have things to forfeit, and changes to make in our lives when we opt to live righteously, myself included. The good news is that if we go to God in pray each morning He will renew our strength, and spirit everyday, and assist us in making these changes. He is forgiving, merciful, understanding, loving, kind, and so much more.

If you have built your house on a weak foundation, I urge you to tear it down, and re-build. Do it today. Build a new house whose foundation is the rock, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Start living your life in a manner that is pleasing to God, and sets a good example for  those you come in contact with to follow. Handle issues that arise in your life in a Godly manner, and people will take notice, because different stands out. Live your life in a manner that causes others to desire what you have. When you do this you're witnessing by example, and as a result others may come to know our Heavenly Father and form a personal relationship with Him. You will experience a happiness, divine peace, and  a contentment in your life like you've never known, and most importantly living righteously is pleasing to God.

If you have a prayer request and would like me to pray for you leave me a message, and I will be  more than happy to do so. May God bless you!