How can I apply what Jesus was teaching the crowd in these verses? The first thing comes from James 1:22, “Don’t merely listen to the Word…do what it says.” For I know I can be in my Bible daily, but if I don’t take what I’ve learned and make it part of my life, what have I gained? Secondly, I know my journey as a Christian isn’t going to be all goodness and light…sometimes it will involve digging down deep to the depths of my soul and going into areas of my life that are painful in order to build on God’s solid foundation. Finally, when the storms of life hit, I will with God’s help stand firm and not be shaken by the outside world…all the while being reminded of Psalm 62:2, “He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will never be shaken.”
Tag: firm foundation in christ
Psalm 56:3 ” When I am afraid, I will trust in You.”
As I studied this verse I discovered that the Hebrew word for afraid, Yare, has two separate meanings. The first is the negative emotion of fearful…while the second is the positive emotion of reverence and awe for God. So what David is explaining here is that in the time of fear he consciously shifted his mind from one meaning to the other… from dwelling on a negative emotion to focusing on a positive one. So instead of standing on the shifting sands of fear and anxiety David planted his feet firmly and confidently on the solid rock of Christ.
Ephesians 2:19-20 ” Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the chief cornerstone.”
What does being part of a family mean to you? To me, it means walking in the front door without having to knock first. It means having a place that I can call my own where I feel safe and secure. But most importantly, being part of a family means I have people I can trust with my very life…that will be there for me at a moments notice, and will love me unconditionally. The same goes for the Family of God…seeing that as Believers, we are now part of God’s household…and with it, all the benefits there of. For this loving family circle we are part of is made up of all those who went before us, every precious saint that confessed Jesus Christ as Lord, with the center of this family unit being Jesus Christ Himself.
Psalm 112:7-8 ” He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. His heart is secure, he will have no fear; in the end he will look in triumph on his foe.”
You will not be able to go through this world without receiving bad news…for loved ones die, accidents happen, and cancer rears its ugly head. So it’s not if bad news will happen, but rather when it will hit us without warning. It’s at that moment we have to make a conscious decision…who and what will I trust in. Will I take this news that’s causing me pain and unhappiness and allow it to control every part of me…or will I stand firm in the confidence of knowing God is in complete control of the situation? Leaning on the Lord is not a sign of weakness…relying on Him for strength and peace is not copping out from reality. Bad news will affect us all…but if our trust is in the Lord, we have the certainty of His firm foundation of love and hope under-girding our shaking bodies.
Isaiah 28:16 ” So this is what the Sovereign Lord says: ‘See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who trusts will never be dismayed.’ “
This Messianic prophecy of Isaiah’s pointed to the coming of Jesus Christ. It correlates with the verse in Psalm 118:22 which says, “The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone.” Jesus is the only firm foundation on which anyone can build their life. He is the chief cornerstone of our faith and trust…for only through Him do we have the forgiveness of sins and hope of eternal life.
In Christ Jesus…You are a citizen of Heaven.
In this upwardly mobile society, we move about a lot. Sometimes out of necessity, sometimes for pleasure…and there’s times we find ourselves in places that are different, strange, and unlike what we’re accustomed to…and we feel uncomfortable…longing for our home. As Believers, we’re foreigners here on Earth…for our citizenship is in Heaven. (Phil. 3:20) It’s no wonder then that we feel conflicted, uneasy and awkward…we’re just visitors here!
In Christ Jesus…You are complete in Jesus Christ.
Many of us walk around with gaping holes in our heart…holes caused from personal loss, trauma, or at the hands of someone else. We frantically search for things to fill these holes, but find nothing that lasts or gives us peace of mind. Jesus Christ is the only person or thing that can make your heart whole again. For in Him, you are made perfectly complete…lacking nothing… able to fully realize who you are in Christ.
Colossians 2:12 ” …having been buried with Him in baptism and raised with Him through your faith in the power of God, Who raised Him from the dead.”
The act of water baptism is full of symbolism and meaning. For those watching, it’s a public declaration of the person’s inner decision. For the person being baptized, it’s a time of newness of soul and spirit. In Romans 6:4 it says, ” We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” Therefore, within the action of water baptism, our old self dies, and our new self emerges out of the water.
I Corinthians 15: 21-22 ” For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.”
The first Adam sinned, and by his actions all humanity was sentenced to death and eternal separation from God. The second Adam came to earth to make atonement for that sin. Jesus Christ was born…walked this earth as any other man…was crucified…died and was buried…but rose three days later…taking the sins of the world upon himself. The resurrection of Jesus – the second Adam – made a way for all mankind to again have intimate fellowship with their Heavenly Father.
Philippians 3:12 ” Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.”
You are still running your race. You are still fighting the good fight of faith. So forget about the mistakes you made yesterday and instead reach for the goal before you…and you will find it.
Safetypinlove 