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foundation

The Good Foundation, Day 11

by TerryLema

I am at the end of the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 7:24-29. Jesus concludes with the picture that those who hear His Words and do them are “like a sensible [wise] man who built his house on the rock.” [vs 24 HCSB]

When the storms of life came in their fury, they pounded at the wise man’s house, but it did not collapse. Its foundation was secure in the Rock.

This is an easy “Am I” question because I have for five decades worked to make sure that my foundation is secure in Christ Jesus. The storms of life have assaulted. There have been times when circumstances have been difficult. Trials have come and gone. But after 50 years, I am still on the Rock. I am a child of God; my foundation is in Him.

I would be remiss if I left anyone with the impression that my house on the Rock is all of my own effort. It is not my grip on God that has kept me secure. It is His grip on me.

I have often reminded others (and myself) that when our children were little, we did not trust the strength of their hands gripping ours to keep them safe in parking lots or on streets or sidewalks or dangerous places. We trusted the strength of our hands holding theirs to keep them close to us.

It is that way with our Father also. I surrendered my hands into His, and He hangs on to me with all His strength and love and grace and compassion and faithfulness. I know He won’t let me go. I know I simply need to say, “Father!” when I am in trouble, and He will hear and hold me tight.

So yes, I can answer that last question with all certainty today, “Am I founded on the Rock? Yes, I am!”

Thank you, LORD, for calling and keeping me. Amen & Amen

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Deeds

by TerryLema

A while back a home in our neighborhood caught fire. Our neighbor and his friend were driving by and saw the flames. They pounded on the door and could hear people inside, but no one would open the door. They finally kicked it in and found a teenager and three young children inside. They were able to get them and their little dog out safely.

The house sat there for quite some time afterwards. We thought they would tear it all down and start over, but apparently much of the house survived the fire. They began reconstruction by clearing out the rubble and determining what was still good and could be left for rebuilding.

In a way that reminds me of what Paul wrote to the Corinthians about our work to build God’s church.

“For no one can lay any other foundation than what has been laid down. That foundation is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on that foundation with gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or straw, each one’s work will become obvious, for the day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire; the fire will test the quality of each one’s work. If anyone’s work that he has built survives, he will receive a reward.” [1 Corinthians 3:11-14 HCSB]

The Church Corporate has one foundation, Christ Jesus our Lord. We are to build on that foundation. One day when we gather at the Throne, our works will be judged to determine their quality. Each one of us has a choice of building materials. Eternal ones are represented by gold, silver, costly stones. Temporal ones by wood, hay, straw. Some will stand the test; others will be consumed.

I am sure that our heart’s motivation will be a key component of quality, along with the actual work itself. Rewards will be received by all those whose work survives. We must always look for God’s direction to build His Church His way and for His glory.

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You Have a Reputation …

by TerryLema

Perhaps there is nothing more devastating than to hear the LORD of Glory declare, “you have a reputation for being alive, but you are dead.”

 That is exactly what Jesus said to the Church at Sardis in Revelation 3:1-6. This is the dead church that thinks it is still alive, thinks it is still doing what Jesus commanded, but in God’s eyes is dead.

Perhaps my greatest anxiety is to one day stand before my Savior and LORD to give an account of my life and to realize how often I was just going through the motions in my Christianity all the while leaving God out of the equation. It is so easy to think that what we are doing … our works … even our Christian works … are the hub of ministry. It is easy to get caught up in human thought, ways, philosophies and methodologies.

When that happens what we build is on sinking sand, it has no eternal value.  It surely will not stand up to the shaking that often occurs.

What we build, whether in our personal lives or in our corporate ones, needs to be built solidly, squarely on the Rock that is above all rocks. I can have the greatest church in my state, the largest campus, the greatest numbers, but if I have built it in my own power and my own wisdom, it will not gain any distinction with God.

The church we build, small, medium or large, must be built by the power of God’s Spirit, in the Wisdom of God, and on the sure foundation of Christ Jesus.  “For no one can lay any foundation other than what has been laid down. That foundation is Jesus Christ.” [1 Corinthians 3:11]

Try building on something else and you might hear Jesus say, “you have a reputation for being alive, but you are dead.”

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