Today’s devotion was written by Sally Hargrove, a member of Faith Lutheran Church.
“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell– and great was its fall!” Matthew 7:24-27
When I read these verses, I’m always reminded of the Sunday School song we all learned as children, especially the hand motions and the big finale when the walls of our house came crashing down with a big bang! Even as children we knew how we would build our house.
Later on in life I realized the “rock” was a symbol for how we should build our life with God as our rock and foundation.
I’m sorry to say I sometimes find myself making people I care about my rocks and foundations. As I grow older I find they can’t be an eternal rock – that can only be our faith in God.
Your own strength, health, intelligence, youth, talents, loved ones, parents, and friends cannot be the foundation stone for life. They all can be easily carried away like the shifting sand and you can be left floundering for a footing. It’s also too big a job for anyone but God.
God wants to be the foundation and meaning of our lives.
I’ve lost some important people in my life as well as things I used to feel secure, and in a fast-changing world the ground beneath my feet feels “sandier” each day.
This year I’m making a commitment to myself and God to put God at the center of my life by increased reading of scripture, communal Bible study, and increased devotional life.
Let us pray: Dear Lord, thank you for always being there waiting for me to call on you and for forgiving my attempts to go it alone too often. Help me to remember that when I thought I was doing everything myself, you were really carrying me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Daily Devotions 
April 29, 2017 at 8:06 am |
Today’s devotion brings to mind the hymn “Built on a Rock”.
Built on the Rock the Church doth stand,
Even when steeples are falling;
Crumbled have spires in every land,
Bells still are chiming and calling,
Calling the young and old to rest,
But above all the soul distressed,
Longing for rest everlasting.
We are God’s house of living stones,
Built for His habitation;
He through baptismal grace us owns
Heirs of His wondrous salvation.
Were we but two His name to tell,
Yet He would deign with us to dwell,
With all His grace and His favor.
November 6, 2017 at 7:13 pm |
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