Who's Doing What

It’s not the one who plants or the one who waters who is at the center of this process but God, who makes things grow. Planting and watering are menial servant jobs at minimum wages. What makes them worth doing is the God we are serving.
1st Corinthians 3:8-9a The Message


When you are first introduced to someone, usually the first question asked after learning their name is, "What do you do?" It's strange how we tend to think that's the most important thing - as if human doings were much more important than human beings, pun intended.

The Corinthians were doing that. Oh, Paul was this, so I follow Paul, while their neighbor contended that Apollos was "more that" so they followed Apollos. Paul took it down to its simplest form in a matter of seconds. It really doesn't matter who's doing what in the Kingdom of God. As long as we're doing it as unto the Lord, God will give the increase on it. He will make it grow. So, who's doing what?

Prayer:

Father,
          Help us to know and understand that everything we do is subject to You. Only that done for You and for Your Kingdom will stand the test of fire. We want to build on Your sure foundation, Father, and only those things that will last. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Sink No Further *

Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the LORD your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior…

Isaiah 43:1b-3a NKJV

My friend had her house leveled. The house was built on top of piers and those piers have sunk as far as they can, down to the solid rock foundation. They will sink no further. It turns out that my friend has hoped and prayed that her house was built on piers, so that was incredibly good news!!

And her good news is a direct result of THE Good News. When she told me this story, it hit me as such a picture of the goodness and mercy of the Lord. The last few years, she has been building her life on the sure foundation of Jesus Christ. Matthew 7:24-25 reads, Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock.

The storms of life come. That’s just the way it is. In our text for today, God doesn’t say IF you pass through the waters, or IF you walk through the fire. The Scripture states WHEN you do. And WHEN we do, He WILL be with us… Christ our Rock, our sure foundation, so we’ll sink no further.

Prayer:

Father,

         Your Word is as solid as it gets. Help us to hear and comprehend and then to stand on it. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen

* Foundation to Stand

[Jesus speaking] Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn't obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.

Matthew 7:24-27 NLT

Anyone who has ever had to have foundation work done to their house knows how difficult, how expensive and how necessary it is to have your foundation sure. In houses that are built with pier and beam, there is much more opportunity to feel the lean. When the weather extremes happen - be they flood or drought - the ground is affected, which in turn affects the foundation. If there is a solid foundation - such as a poured concrete foundation - the house will usually stand. It definitely is not bounced around. We all know that.

We also all know that Jesus Christ - as the Cornerstone of our foundation in life  - renders us immovable, unshakable  steadfast, and sure. We know because it is written in the Word. Why is that important? Read our text again, and notice. The rain and floodwaters and wind hit BOTH houses. BOTH houses suffer the onslaught against them. Only one stands...

Which will you be?

Prayer:

Father,

         For all that You've done, for all that you're doing, for all that You will do, we give You praise and offer our hearts of thanksgiving to You. Lord, we want to be the ones who listen and follow your teaching. Make us wise, so that at the end of the day - at the end of the Age, we're still standing on You, our Solid Rock. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen