Solid Foundation

Luke 6:48  He is like a man which built an 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.

Our lives are like a house. How it weathers the storm or the span of time will depend on the foundation that it is built on. When a house is built, it is important that the ground beneath it is solid and stable. No matter how elegant the exterior the house may be, if the foundation is not solid, it will fall and crumple when the the floods of water start to assault the house. How do we know our lives are built on something solid? Jesus says, that the person that will do the things that He say is the person that has a solid foundation. Jesus, says, I’m the way, the truth, and the life, through Him we come to the Father. He also says, if you love me, keep my commandments. Giving our lives to Him, having our sinned forgiven, and following His Word will assure us that we our building our lives on a solid foundation.

He Will Meet Our Needs

Matt. 6:32 For after all these things do the Gentiles seek: for your heavenly Father knows that ye have need of all these things.

Eating, drinking, and shelter are natural instincts of human nature. Yet, Jesus says, not to worry about such things. I believe there is a deeper truth here than what is implied. Our spiritual needs should supersede our temporal needs. This body will die and pass away, but the spirit of this body will live for eternity. It is a step of faith to believe what you cannot see. Eternal life is beyond understanding. We live each day for food and shelter. We work each day to provide for the needs of the flesh and its comforts. We worry how we are going to make ends meet. There is a responsibility on our part to work. God has given us strength, talents, and a brain to accomplish many things, but our love and affections should be to first seek the Kingdom of God. We must do our best, and trust God to do the rest. At the end of our resources, He give us what we need when we need it. 

Taste of the Lord

Ps. 34:8 O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

You don’t know until you try it. I have never met anyone who gave their lives to Jesus and later in life regretted doing so. We often try things because others who have tried it have had a good experience. There are something in the world that we know by other’s experience that it is best not to even try. We know that doing so often ends bad. Smoking, drinking, drugs, and various forms of immoral behaviors. But, drinking at the fountain of living water, taking a bite from the bread of Life, feasting at the table of the Lord is always done with satisfaction. It never leaves a bad taste in your mouth. Come and dine and see that the Lord is good. Taste of Him and your life will be filled with joy and satisfaction.

Give All To Jesus

Luke 23:46 46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: 

Resigned to the will of God. I give it up and place my life into your hand. Jesus, the God-man gave up His earthly life, made himself willing to be the supreme sacrifice for sin. There on the cross, He speaks some of His final words, “Father, I offer up my life” A very intimate prayer that implies a close relationship with God the Father. We must come to a place in our lives where we come to the end of ourselves and submit everything to God. In His love and mercy, He forgives us of our unrighteousness and makes our heart clean from those sins we have committed, but now entreats us to give it all up. Our desires and wants, all that we hold dear to our hearts. Into His hand we commit “self” to let God do what He desires. “Commit thy way unto the Lord, and He will direct thy path”  

One Offering

Hebrew 10:12.14  But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;…  For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

Them that are set apart, believing that Jesus died on the cross to forgive us of our sins, He hath made them perfect in heart. Because of Adam’s transgression, all born into this world are born with sin, but God sent His son to be the one offering to redeem man from his sinful state. We have not yet arrived, and we are a work in progress. Perfect in heart, with a singleness toward the will of God. But we are earthen vessels, prone to weakness and failures. Our body and mind, and emotions are imperfect and subject to breaking down. God takes this vessel, fills it with His Spirit and uses it for His purpose. He is the potter, we are the clay. He is molding and making us into His perfect will. We need to keep are hands off the wheel and let Him do what He must to make us what we ought to be. 

Jesus' Out Stretched Hand

Mat. 14:31- And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

We sometimes have faith to step out, but when things get tough our faith starts to waiver. We believe God will take care of the situation, but the circumstance around us tell us a different story. We step out, but then the winds and the waves around us make us wonder if God is really directing our path. Peter, a man of many words took the first step, but his lack of faith to keep walking inspite of the knowing that Jesus was right there caused him to sink into the waters. Peter’s struggle of faith was due in part because he had yet to experience the fullness of the Holy Spirit. After Pentecost, Peter still had to deal with his impulsive and somewhat brash personality, but his faith in what God could do was resolute and fearless. We all face things in our lives that cause us to wonder if God is really in control, but we must remain resolute in our faith and determination to keep our eyes on Jesus. But if for whatever reason we do falter, He will always be there with an out-stretched hand to pull back up. 

Everlasting Life

John 6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life:

No one is predestined to spend eternity in hell. It is the will of God that every one come to the knowledge of Christ. Life with a purpose is to find fulfillment in Christ. Whatever the trail or hardship we may face in life, we can have contentment in knowing that Jesus knows our every step and will be with us all the way. It is His desire to give us everlasting life. Life beyond this earthly walk. The body will perish, but the essence and soul of man will live on beyond the grave. Understanding and comprehending everlasting life is difficult to grasp. We have finite minds and limited capabilities. There are those with great imaginations that can provide us a visual of what it might look like, but we really can’t wrap our minds around the idea and concept. It is suffice to say, that our will be changed from mortality to immortality. We will see Him in all of His glory. Until then, let us feast of the bread of life. Let us taste and be satisfied in knowing that Jesus can fill every longing of heart for He is everlasting life.

From Crisis to Crisis

1 King 17:18- And she said unto Elijah, What have I to do with thee, O thou man of God? art thou come unto me to call my sin to remembrance, and to slay my son?

When things go from bad to worse, we wonder why the test when we are trying to do our best. We are quick to question God and find ourselves wanting to have answers. Many times we don’t get the answer and must rely on trusting God that He knows what is best for us. What is best for us is not always pleasant, and we are left to making a choice to complain or seek God and rest in Him knowing that He has all things in His control. The widow women just came through a crisis and God delivered her, but it was not too long that she faced with another one. We all have experience times in our lives when we live from one crisis to another. It is in time like this that we hold on to God and believe that He will see us through. God may not always answer our prayers the way we want Him to, but He will provide the grace to help us through the crisis and come through with peace knowing that God will do what is best.