Today’s reading is from Matthew 7:24-27, Luke 6:47-49, and Psalm 96
Matthew 7:24-27 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on the rock. The rain fell, the rivers rose, and the winds blew and pounded that house. Yet it didn’t collapse, because it’s foundation was on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of Mine and doesn’t act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, the rivers rose, the winds blew and pounded that house, and it collapsed. And its collapse was great!”
Growing up I learned about God as my foundation in Sunday school. Thankfully my parents started this for me at a young age. It wasn’t until I had my own storms that I really understood the strength and importance of God as my rock and foundation. There are a handful of moments that I can recall very quickly where I was clinging to my sure foundation for peace in the midst of my storm. When I failed a major class in college, when I became a mother, and when my son was diagnosed as “not typical”. These moments all made me shrivel back in fear and question my abilities, my worth, my significance. Initially I recall trying to reconcile these situations on my own. Study harder, be better, research more. But when these methods still left me feeling empty and exhausted I finally sat quietly with God…..my foundation…..and the peace of God replaced my fear. My perspective changed from the difficulty of the moment to Gods eternal perspective. I began to see the blessing in the trial and I started to grow in faith, love, and grace. My view of the world is much better when I’m sitting on the foundation of who I am in Christ. There is nothing that can change the fact that God loves me and sent His son to die on the cross for my sins. I am His and this life is a gift. I may lose a few shingles here and there but my foundation will not be shaken.
Are you sure of your foundation? In both Matthew and Luke it says that the destruction “is great” to those who do not build their foundation on the rock. The good news is that you don’t have to build it yourself. God already did. Just accept it and build your house on it. Storms will come……you may need to replace a few shingles, shattered windows, or creaky doors but God’s foundation is strong and peaceful.