Building without a foundation

Just before we began building our home, we needed to get the approval of our neighbours. Going from house to house was an interesting experience and, on the whole, it was great to meet our new community. 

One of new our neighbours kindly invited us into their home to show us the bad 'cracks' that had developed over the years and they gave us this advice: 'make sure that you build on solid foundations, because we were in a rush when we built, and we now see the error of our judgement.' 

We took their advice and asked our builder to be extra cautious when digging our foundations and so far it has been a wise decision. I was thinking of this story when I read Luke 6 yesterday:

46 “So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say? 47 I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. 48 It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built. 49 But anyone who hears and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house right on the ground, without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins.”

Thought: What does it mean for us to 'build on the rock?'

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Good fruit or bad fruit?

“No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of." - Luke 6:43-45

These words of Jesus teach us that a tree will be recognized by its fruit. And this doesn't seem complicated to grasp, except that is also a powerful reminder that a tree will only produce good fruit if it is watered, fertilized and cared for. We can't expect to see delicious fruit growing from our lives (trees) if we are feeding it rubbish or not caring for it at all.

Thought: Would you say that you are producing good fruit (or bad) at the moment? Why?

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Who is my enemy?

When Jesus challenged his followers to love their enemies, I am sure that he knew we would find this so hard. Even as I contemplate his words, there is a part of me that wants to resist his command, yet it still looms large in the Gospels.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you," - Matthew 5:43-44 (Luke 9)

So, let us ask the question: 'Who is my enemy?'

The dictionary defines an enemy as "a person who is actively opposed or hostile to someone or something." 

This throws the net even wider for us. There may not be people who are willing to draw weapons against us, but there are people who oppose our faith, or who are hostile to us. Sadly, a lot of these people choose to hide behind social media posts or some other means of communication, but they still remain in opposition to us. So, Jesus' advice to us is:  "Love those who oppose you!"

Thought: This is going to be a life-long work for me - how do you feel about what Jesus has called us to do?

Living in Grace

D3LM3

In Christ Alone

I was grateful for the words of 'In Christ Alone' this past week. It is wonderful how the lyrics and melody of songs have the ability to speak into our lives. Here are the words of the first verse of this song:

“In Christ alone, my hope is found:
He is the light, my strength, my song.
This cornerstone, this Solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease,
My comforter, my all in all,
Here in the love of Christ I stand.” – Keith Getty and Stuart Townend

May you find deep security in the presence of Jesus Christ. Our Hope is found in Him.

If you would like to listen to the song, please click here

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Seeing but not noticing

 

As I was reading Genesis 42 this week, the following words left an impression on me:

"Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they did not recognize him." - Genesis 42:8

And I wondered, WHY? 

Why did they not recognize him? Had he changed so much in 13 years? Or were they just not expecting to see him at all, so there was no expectation that he would be standing in front of them?

This led me to some verses in the New Testament, where people didn't recognize Jesus either. Some of them did eventually have their 'aha' moments, but others still couldn't see him.

Luke 24:31 - Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.

John 1:10 - He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.

Thought: How do we recognize Christ in our everyday lives? Do we truly have eyes to see him? What gifts of God are right in front of us, but we refuse to notice them?

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Things that will destroy us

Luke 9:25 - "And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed?"

When asked about the things that can destroy our lives, Ghandi made these suggestions:

"Politics without principle,
pleasure without conscience,
wealth without work,
knowledge without character,
business without morality,
science without humanity,
worship without sacrifice." 

If we compare his thoughts with those of Jesus, we will see a strong connection. All of the things that are mentioned by Ghandi are the idols that many people cling to (politics, pleasure, wealth etc.) - but what benefit are these to us, if we forfeit our souls in the quest for these things?

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Be a saunterer

To saunter is to walk slowly and in a relaxed manner. This word is a reminder to me that we are called to follow Christ in a deliberate manner, but also to notice all that is around us. If our walking is purely about clocking a certain time, we may lose the opportunity to reflect on why we are walking.

John Muir writes: "...back in the Middle Ages people used to go on pilgrimages to the Holy Land, and when people in the villages through which they passed asked, where they were going, they would reply, "A la sainte terre (to the Holy Land)." And so, they became known as saint-terre-ers or saunterers. 

Walking in the footsteps of Jesus is like going on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. We are not going on a hike or passing awhile time, we are SAUNTERERS. 

3 John 1: 4 - "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth."

Living in Grace

D3LM3