Today’s scripture: Matthew 7:21-29; Luke 6:47-49 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (David Zier):
Before Jeff and I moved to Indianapolis in 1997, we contracted to have a home built when we visited the city in September 1996. When we signed the contract, we were given the parameters and dates of when the home would be ready. But then a brutal winter came. They could not pour the concrete foundation when it was so cold, because the cement would change properties and be too brittle. The ground would be frozen and would not be as solid when it would later thaw. Builders usually lay their foundations when the weather and soil conditions are at their best. It takes foresight to know how a foundation will stand up against adverse conditions. Building a house on a flood plain, such as a dry riverbed, or in sub-zero temperatures when the ground is frozen in the dead of winter is a sure bet for disaster.
I may be talking about a physical house, but what about our spiritual house? What kind of foundation am I building my life upon? Sometimes, one hears the Word and becomes convicted, but at the first sign of trouble or when the cares of the world whisper in our ear, we run away. The foundation is made of sand that shifts; or the concrete is still wet, and we try to move it and shift it before it dries, before it becomes the sturdy foundation. Or, is it the kind of foundation that enable me to survive the storms that are sure to come?
Therese of Liseux lived to be 24 years old in the late 19th century. She felt an early call to the religious life and became a nun at 15. She was part of a Carmelite community in Normandy. She lived a hard life, experiencing several illnesses, and succumbing to tuberculosis in 1897. The depth of her spirituality, of which she said, “my way is all confidence and love,” has inspired many. Her life and love of God was about simplicity. She became known as “The Little Flower of Jesus,” even though she wanted to remain unknown, living humbly and magnifying God. In the face of her littleness and nothingness, she trusted in God to be her sanctity. She wanted to go to heaven by an entirely new little way. “I wanted to find an elevator that would raise me to Jesus.” The elevator, she wrote, would be the arms of Jesus lifting her in all her littleness. Therese’s short life, the way she lived humbly with a humility that mirrored Frances of Assisi, and the writings of her spiritual journey showed what kind of foundation her faith was built on. She was only 24 years old at the end of her life.
Jesus prefaced his story about foundation with a warning: We may sound like we are on sure footing by what we say, and we may deceive ourselves and others, but God cannot be deceived. God sees my heart as it truly is: its motives, intentions, desires, and choices. There is only one way my sincerity can be shown, and it is by what I practice and what I do. Fine words can never replace good deeds. Communication is 80% non-verbal, so words are just a small part of it. Character is revealed in the choices we make, especially when we are tested, and in how we follow through with those choices.
Thought for the Day (Prayer): What foundation is my life built upon?
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the suggestions on the How to Pray page.