Building Our Lives
READ
There was a time in my life when I was simply a church attender. I was present almost every Sunday and enjoyed hearing the Word preached. But while I listened to the service each week, it was never with the intent of letting it fully change my heart, my choices, or my everyday life. I wasn't intentionally defiant. I just didn't know what I didn't know.
In our passage today, Jesus speaks about this limited approach to faith—a faith that only hears but doesn't act.
Let's take a moment to read the words of Jesus in Matthew 7:24-27:
"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."
Here Jesus contrasts the faith of two believers. The first hears the words of Jesus, steps into action, and exercises his faith. He does the hard work of building on rock, which takes time and effort, carefully exploring what's beneath the surface.
The second believer hears His words, and that's it. No action. He builds without giving much thought to the foundation. He seems rushed and undisciplined, and I can easily wonder why—except for the fact that I was once just like this, conveniently building a life on temporary things. Building a life on sand.
REFLECT
We are all building our lives on something. For many years, I never gave this much thought. I was certainly busy, and the years of my life seemed to be following a fairly typical progression: education, a career, starting a family, and finding a home.
But each time I checked off a milestone and immediately stared into the horizon of the next one, the same feeling would resurface. The same emptiness would present itself. A cycle of simply checking one thing off just to get to the next often left me wondering, like so many have felt before, "Is this all there is? Is this the purpose of my life?"
I was so focused on the "next thing" that I neglected the most important thing—building a life centered on Jesus and being fully committed to Him. My "faith" was stagnant, and I was unprepared for the storms that would inevitably come. For Jesus tells us that "in this world we will have trouble" (John 16:33), but like the foolish man, I didn't want to think about that.
Port City's mission when my husband and I first walked through the doors twenty years ago was clearly communicated, and it's still the same today: to "reach people and help them walk with God." As I stepped into being involved, spent time learning with other believers, and started taking an honest look at my own heart, I felt something inside of me begin to change. I felt a shift from church attender to someone who was starting to walk with God. I slowly started trading sand for a solid foundation. I came to realize that it wasn't wise to try to build my faith in times of trouble. I had to build my faith daily. And in every small step of growth, I discovered how meaningful and purposeful my life could be with God at the center.
In our verses today, we see that the storm eventually came for both men. I often wish that, as Christ followers, we were exempt from this. I wish our hearts never had to hurt or experience pain. But I find that as I sit with God in the suffering, I am able to fully experience what it is that I say I believe—that in Christ I am standing on a firm foundation.
I have been through my share of heartache, and, maybe like you, I have scars that still remain on my fragile human heart. But I still know the truth. A life that trusts in Jesus and continually seeks to be transformed by Him will always be secure. He is the only Rock we can build our lives upon.
RESPOND
Take a moment to process what God might be leading you to do in light of what you read.
This week, take a few minutes to listen to the song Firm Foundation by Cody Carnes. As the lyrics fall on your heart, celebrate the fact that you have something solid to build your life upon.
Our Heavenly Father is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Make a list of the unchanging promises of God that can encourage you every day and strengthen you when the storms come.
This week, take time to be a "doer" of the Word. Whether it's praying, serving, or expressing generosity, build on the firm foundation of Christ by actively following Him.
REST
Lord, thank You for being the Rock that I can build my life upon. Help me remember that Your promises never fail. Help me trust You with every part of my life so that I can feel Your nearness and have confidence in Your faithfulness. Lord, no matter what my circumstances are today, help my heart to fully know and fully trust that You and Your love remain the same. You never fail. Amen.
Port City writer Holly Campbell wrote today’s devotional.