Wednesday September 18, 2024

Today is Wednesday, September 13 and we are learning what the Bible says about foundation.

Holy and loving God, In the quiet of the morning, I pause to connect with Your Holy Spirit. You are my firm foundation. You are the rock on which I stand. When the future is uncertain, when the world doesn’t make sense, when I am anxious, worried, or afraid, I stop to remember Your good promises. Thank You for being with me in every circumstance and reminding me that You place my feet on solid ground. I can trust You completely. Amen.

By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames. 1 Corinthians 3:10-15

Paul had regular communication through letters and personal messengers with the church he started in Corinth. A number of knotty problems had developed in the church and Paul wrote to give instruction and advice. There were divisions in the church causing some to follow different leaders and this created tension. Apollo was a colleague and friend who was building on the foundation Paul previously laid. Conflict and jealousy rose among the people as they strived to build the church together for the future. Paul reminded them of the church’s one foundation and challenged them to build on this foundation with spiritual care and quality of work.

As a Christian, I am called to build up the church. I am to build the church with care constructed on the foundation that is Jesus Christ. No other foundation will suffice. I am to build my life with care and construct it on the foundation of Jesus. I carefully strive to be the best person I can be with the help of the Holy Spirit and God’s grace. I consider the foundation on which I have been building. Is it the right foundation? Do my recent life-constructing efforts resemble gold, silver or costly stones? Or do my recent activities more closely resemble wood, hay or straw? When the fire comes to test the quality of my life’s endeavors, what will be revealed? What will stand the test of time? God’s test. I consider what eternal value my daily efforts hold.

I notice how many times today’s scripture uses the words foundation, build, builder or building. The image of construction is evident throughout the passage. I consider the foundation that I have built my life upon. I consider how I would describe the foundation of my marriage, my career, and my family. I point to the things in my life that I have already built and estimate the work I need to do in the future. Building a life is an ongoing process.

Ask: How am I working to build my life, my family and my church on the foundation of Jesus? What can I point to in my life that holds lasting value?

Pause and Pray

Holy Lord God, thank You for reminding me how important it is to build my life on Your foundation each day. Forgive me when I am careless and do not take the opportunity to give You my daily best. Grant me grace to grow in spiritual maturity and adorn my temple with what is of true value. Through the power of Your Holy Spirit sanctify me and make me worthy of Your indwelling presence. God of Holiness, I invite You in. Clear out the temple of my heart, cleanse the chapel of my soul, sanctify my spirit and dwell in me. I make room for Your abiding presence and I seek to receive and magnify the fullness of Your love. Make Your home in me now and always. Amen.

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