Patti Burris

1 Corinthians 3:10-15

¹⁰ 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. ¹¹ For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. ¹² If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, ¹³ 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. ¹⁴ If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. ¹⁵ If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.

Matthew 7:24-27

²⁴ “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. ²⁵ The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. ²⁶ But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. ²⁷ The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

We all know that anything that is not built with a solid foundation will crumble and fall. The same goes for our Christian walk. Our foundation as Christians has to be built on the Rock (Jesus). How do we build a firm foundation as a Christian?

1 Corinthians 15:58

⁵⁸ Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Matthew 7 tells us that those who HEAR what Jesus is saying to us AND PRACTICES what He says will have a solid foundation. We need to be ACTIVELY LISTENING to what Jesus is telling us. Not only do we need to listen, we need to PRACTICE what He says. We need to be OBEDIENT.

Corinthians 15:58 tells us that we need to STAND FIRM. It reiterates this by saying that we are to LET NOTHING MOVE US. We are to GIVE OURSELVES FULLY TO THE WORK OF THE LORD.

As Christians, there are some spiritual disciplines that we should be actively practicing in obedience to Jesus:

1. Prayer – ⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:6
2. Bible Study – ⁸ Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Joshua 1:8
3. Fellowship with Believers – ⁴² They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. ⁴³ Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. ⁴⁴ All the believers were together and had everything in common. Acts 2:42-44 

Of course, we can’t forget the commands that Jesus gives us in the verses I started with:

1. Hear (Listen)
2. Practice (Obedience)
3. Stand Firm (Let nothing move you)
4. Give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord

Challenge:

These are not the only spiritual disciplines of Jesus or that the Bible commands us to practice. I am challenging you to find the other spiritual practices of Jesus. I challenge you to find the other disciplines that the Bible tells us that we need to actively practice. Reflect in your journal and find ways to implement these disciplines into your daily life. Don’t think of it as something that needs to be checked off of a to-do list. the disciplines are not meant to be legalistic. They are meant to bring you closer to the heart of God. They are meant to help you build your foundation as a Christian.

Life as a Christian is not easy. It’s not meant to be. As with everything important, it takes a solid foundation to build a strong house, car, relationship or Christian life. Dig into the Bible and ask the Holy Spirit to lead you as you seek His ways. A foundation built on anything other than Jesus will crumble and fall, so build your foundation on the ROCK (JESUS).