firm foundation | Kristi's Morning Devotional

August 7, 2019August 7, 2019

Under Construction

Strong as a brick house! You remember how the story goes: Three little pigs, one built their house of straw, one built their house of twigs and one built their house of bricks. The big, bad wolf huffed and puffed and blew down the first two houses but when he came to the house of bricks he huffed and puffed and huffed and puffed and huffed and puffed and he couldn’t move the house.

Children’s stories have a lesson to teach if we are smart enough to look for it. Did you realize that story is an example of the believer who is standing on God’s word?

“You believers are like a building that God owns. That building was built on the foundation that the apostles and prophets prepared. Christ Jesus himself is the most important stone in that building. 21 The whole building is joined together in Christ, and he makes it grow and become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in Christ you are being built together with his other people. You are being made into a place where God lives through the Spirit.” Ephesians 2:21-22 ERV

The cornerstone or foundational stone for our lives as believers is Jesus Christ. We are in Him! And in Him, the Spirit of God dwells, so the Spirit of God dwells in us, giving us strength to stand, empowering us for victory.

“Whoever hears these teachings of mine and obeys them is like a wise man who built his house on rock. 25 It rained hard, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house. But it did not fall because it was built on rock. 26 “Whoever hears these teachings of mine and does not obey them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 It rained hard, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house. And it fell with a loud crash.” Matthew 7:24-27 ERV

Jesus is called the “Word made flesh” so when we accept Him as our Savior he becomes our chief cornerstone. He is the true foundation for our spiritual lives, we become grounded on the rock.

Jesus told Peter that when we build our lives on the knowledge that Jesus is the anointed Son of God that we are built on a rock and death will not be able to destroy us.

“Then Jesus asked them, “But who do you say I am?” ¹⁶Simon Peter spoke up, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

¹⁷Jesus told him: Simon, son of Jonah, you are blessed! You didn’t discover this on your own. It was shown to you by my Father in heaven. ¹⁸So I will call you Peter, which means “a rock.” On this rock I will build my church, and death itself will not have any power over it.” Matthew 16:15-18 CEV

I used to clean a house that had a bad foundation. The soil had not been properly compacted and as the soil settled cracks began appearing in the concrete floor. Some were more obvious than others. As I cleaned I saw the cracks were in every room in the house. I can’t help but wonder about the condition of the house ten years from now. It looks good from the outside but the foundation is compromised. It’s not stable.

When we recognize our need for Christ and accept Him as our Lord and Savior we build our lives on a sure foundation, a rock. We don’t just look good but we are solid to the core.

“You also are like living stones, and God is using you to build a spiritual house. You are to serve God in this house as holy priests, offering him spiritual sacrifices that he will accept because of Jesus Christ. ⁶The Scriptures say, “Look, I have chosen a cornerstone of great value, and I put that stone in Zion. Anyone who trusts in him will never be disappointed.” I Peter 2:5-6 ERV

Let me be the first to compliment you. You look like a brick house, you’re solid, unshakable and when you trust the Lord you’ll never be disappointed.

October 12, 2018

Solid Ground

Where are you standing today? Is your footing sure?

Hiking the hills around our home, it’s imperative that you know where your next step needs to be. The terrain is covered with cactus, sage brush, an occasional rattler and the ground can cause your foot to give way without any notice.

The same holds true in life. If we aren’t standing on a sure foundation undoubtedly we will slip and fall. But when the foundation is sure, we are secure.

“Turn Your ear to me, and be quick to save me. Be my rock of strength, a strong place to keep me safe. ³For You are my rock and my safe place. For the honor of Your name, lead me and show me the way. ” Psalm 31:2-3 NLV

Jesus taught about a house on a solid rock foundation in a parable and then went on to say that the rock was the Word of God.

“Anyone who comes and listens to me and obeys me is like someone who dug down deep and built a house on solid rock. When the flood came and the river rushed against the house, it was built so well that it didn’t even shake. But anyone who hears what I say and doesn’t obey me is like someone whose house wasn’t built on solid rock. As soon as the river rushed against that house, it was smashed to pieces!” Luke 6:47-49 CEV

There’s an old hymn that says the same. It was written by a man named Edward Mote in the 1800’s – it has a true message for today.

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

Refrain:
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.

His oath, His covenant, His blood
Support me in the whelming flood;
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay.

Refrain:
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.

There are so many things that could to shake us to the core. The political climate, actual storms like those we’ve seen hit our country recently, health issues, stormy relationships can all be devastating if we aren’t securely anchored to our sure foundation.

Thank you Lord for giving me a secure place to stand. In You I am safe!

January 19, 2018January 19, 2018

Favor and Good Success

The foundation has been laid and the walls are going up!

When we first started on our study in Psalm 119 weeks ago, we started with the premise that we were building a firm foundation. A foundation that would be secure and able to keep us safe in the storms of life. It is my hope that each day you have found a verse that supported you and strengthened you.

King David has repeatedly mentioned his enemies and those who hate him and want to see him destroyed. But he also states time and again that he relies on the Lord to deliver him and that he will continue to stand on God’s word.

May I ask, do you have enemies? Who or what are they? It may be that they are real people or perhaps they are circumstances or situations like fear, debt, illness, lack of self-esteem, pride, anger, addiction, self-righteousness, gossip. I will give you a moment to ascertain what is trying to destroy you.

“Powerful leaders attack me for no reason, but the only thing I fear is your command. ¹⁶²Your word makes me happy, like someone who has found a great treasure. ¹⁶³I hate lies; they make me sick! But I love your teachings. ¹⁶⁴Seven times a day I praise you because your laws are fair. ¹⁶⁵Those who love your teachings will find true peace. Nothing can make them fall. ¹⁶⁶Lord, I am waiting for you to save me. I obey your commands. ¹⁶⁷I follow your rules. I love them very much. ¹⁶⁸I obey all your instructions and rules, because you know everything I do.” Psalm 119:161-168

Jesus didn’t speak against Caesar but he did talk about the hypocrisy of his day. He countered each accusation or attack brought against Him with “It is written”. Satan brought temptations against Him and Jesus answered with the Word. The Pharisees, the Sadducees and the rulers of the Law brought twisted questions of entrapment and He answered with the Word. His answers were so powerful that the Bible says they would stop their line of questioning.

Staying focused on God’s word, loving His word and obeying His instruction will bring ridicule and persecution BUT it will also bring “true peace and nothing will make those who love it fall.”

I’d like to tell you the story of another king who trusted in the Lord. His name was Hezekiah. He became king at the age of 25 after his father’s death. His father Ahaz was an evil king who led the people of Judah in idol worship.

“Hezekiah was twenty-five years old when he became king of Judah, and he ruled twenty-nine years from Jerusalem…²Hezekiah obeyed the Lord by doing right, just as his ancestor David had done. In the first month of the first year of Hezekiah’s rule, he unlocked the doors to the Lord’s temple and had them repaired…So the temple was once again used for worshiping the Lord. ³⁶Hezekiah and the people of Judah celebrated, because God had helped them make this happen so quickly.” II Chronicles 29 CEV

Hezekiah was determined to honor the Lord and have made a commitment to obey God’s word.

“Everything Hezekiah did while he was king of Judah, including what he did for the temple in Jerusalem, was right and good. He was a successful king, because he obeyed the Lord God with all his heart.” II Chronicles 31:20-21 CEV

But Hezekiah had enemies who wanted to destroy him, the king of Assyria waged war against him.

“After King Hezekiah had faithfully obeyed the Lord’s instructions by doing these things, King Sennacherib of Assyria invaded Judah. He attacked the fortified cities and thought he would capture every one of them...Be brave and confident! There’s no reason to be afraid of King Sennacherib and his powerful army. We are much more powerful, ⁸because the Lord our God fights on our side. The Assyrians must rely on human power alone...Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz asked the Lord for help, ²¹and he sent an angel that killed every soldier and commander in the Assyrian camp. Sennacherib returned to Assyria, completely disgraced.” II Chronicles 32

This isn’t just a fun little Bible story, this is the story of a man who trusted God and stood on God’s word. He was built on a firm foundation and it saved him and those in his country.

King Solomon also knew that in order for us to be truly successful we must trust and follow God’s word.

“My son, do not forget my teaching. Let your heart keep my words. ²For they will add to you many days and years of life and peace. ³Do not let kindness and truth leave you. Tie them around your neck. Write them upon your heart. ⁴So you will find favor and good understanding in the eyes of God and man. ⁵Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not trust in your own understanding.” Proverbs 3:1-5 NLV

If the Kings, (David, Solomon, Hezekiah) and many others plus Jesus and his disciples all depended on God’s word as their foundation should we do any less?

Let’s say with the Apostle Paul “let God be true and every man a liar”.

Favor and victory comes from the Lord!