"Come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation." - Psalm 95:1 NLT
Especially during the colder months, it’s fun to daydream about a warm, sunny beach. One of our favorite summer activities is building sandcastles, often with a touch of friendly competition to see who can create the biggest and most intricate design. But no matter how impressive the castle or how deep the moat we dug around it, one thing was always certain—by morning, it would all be reduced to a simple pile of sand.
In Matthew 7, Jesus illustrates an important truth about how we build our lives. He explains that a foolish man builds his house (or life) on sand, only to watch it collapse when storms come. Yet, it can be so tempting to look at the things the world offers and desire them for ourselves.
We can fall into the trap of believing that the more we have, and the more impressive it looks, the happier we’ll be. But we must ask ourselves: would we rather have a fragile sandcastle or a sturdy shack? God doesn’t promise castles in this life, but He does offer us a solid foundation to build on, one that brings lasting peace and joy.
The Apostle Paul echoed our verse of the day in I Corinthians 3:11. There is no other foundation to build our lives on than Jesus. He is the Rock of our salvation. He brings security. He offers the guarantee that whatever you build on the foundation of Himself will stand firm. That should cause us to shout for joy!
HIGHLIGHTED QUOTE: We must decide if we will be happier with a sandcastle or a sturdy shack.
TIP OF THE DAY: Celebrate the assurance that God offers as your eternal Rock, rather than bemoan that you do not have as large a sandcastle as others.
TALKING TO GOD: Dear Lord, there is so much that I am unsure of but thank you for the confidence that I can have in You, that you are the Rock of my salvation! Thank you that, when times seem uncertain or shaky, You are my confident hope. Lord, please reveal to me ways that I may be building my life on sand, instead of on You, my Rock. Amen.
PAUSE AND REFLECT
- Take some time to evaluate what you spend your time doing. Are you spending your day expending the sandcastle or building something that will last for eternity?
- What is one thing that you can celebrate today that is a result of the fact that God is your Rock?
- How can you encourage someone else who needs to be reminded to celebrate God as their Rock?
