Building on Sand or on Solid Rock
C.A. Carter • May 20, 2023
“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. 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.” (Matthew 7:24-25)
Practice is something we all do. Whether it’s practicing our ABC’s, our sport, musical scales, relational skills, or medicine, we are all creatures of habit and repetition. Practice takes time and consistency to see fruitful results; and while repeating a task or exercise often seems mundane to both the energetic first grader and the seasoned attending physician, practice has one critical goal in mind: to prepare ourselves for the test.
In our text, Jesus reveals two universal truths:
(1) We will experience trials. No one is exempt; rain is coming, streams will rise, and winds will blow on all of us at some point.
(2) Our ability to stand or fall depends upon the way we practice. By putting His words into practice, we may stand strong when tested.
Jesus gives His followers a lesson on spiritual architecture. Of course, homes built on weak foundations cannot withstand the winds of violent storms. Likewise, men and women who ground their lives in the things of this world are susceptible to collapse during life’s challenging seasons. If we neglect prayer, worship, and other spiritual disciplines, we too will sink when tested by trials. Building a strong spiritual foundation requires more than listening to a Sunday sermon or a weekly glance into our Bible. Instead, it is experiencing God through a lifestyle of intimacy and dependence upon Jesus through His Holy Spirit living in us.
So, when the rain comes, the streams rise, and the wind blows, we will not fall, because our foundation in Jesus is solid. And yet, we should not only practice the words of Christ to simply withstand the tests of this life, but also the ultimate test that we will all face when this life is over. When we take our final breath, we will all stand before the One who made us. He will either say, “Well done good and faithful servant, you put my words into practice,” or “Depart from me, for I never knew you.” This is the ultimate test we will face, and the outcome depends on what we practice.
So, two questions we must ask ourselves: What do our daily habits and rituals say about the foundation we are building? Are we building upon the rock of God’s word or the sinking sand of worldly wisdom?
By C.A. Carter
C.A. will be a senior at LCA this fall. She has been at Immanuel for about two years and is the daughter of Jimmy and Carrie Carter.
The Lord Is with You “Go back, Sam. I’m going to Mordor alone,” Frodo shouts as his boat drifts from shore. “Of course you are. And I’m coming with you,” Samwise-Gamgee responds as he wades into the water. As The Fellowship of the Ring ends, Frodo’s dangerous journey to destroy the ring of power in subsequent Lord of the Rings movies begins. His determination to go alone was only matched by Sam’s loyalty, a loyalty that refused to stay behind. The mission was too important. Even though she didn’t know it, Mary was about to be sent on a mission too important to go alone. Before she even gets the assignment, Gabriel begins with these words. “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” (Luke 1:28) The promise of God’s presence comes swiftly from his angelic tongue. I am sure Mary needed a calming reassurance in that moment, as angels don’t visit every day. But this initial promise is not just for her immediate comfort. Mary needed the promise of God’s presence to do the task she was being given. Gabriel continues. “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” (Luke 1:30–33) For an unmarried teenager in tiny Nazareth, to say her assignment was beyond her ability to accomplish alone is a bit of an understatement. But believe it or not, we are not that different. The details of our assignment from God are very different from Mary’s, but they are just as impossible without God’s presence. He has called each of His followers to be His witnesses (Acts 1:8). We are to display His love in how we live, treat others, and share the good news of what He has done. Our lives, in word and deed, should reflect the grace we have been shown. That is no easy task, which is why I appreciate this promise from Jesus in Matthew 28:20. “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Be His witness today; He is with you. By Philip Jones Philip and his wife Stacy have been attending Immanuel since 2015. They are blessed to be raising four kids. His passion in ministry is to help others follow Jesus through teaching, preaching, and personal discipleship.
Blessed Obscurity Hodgenville, Kentucky barely has over 3,000 residents. Seated in Larue County, it is one of many obscure small towns in this world. But if you are a history buff, there is a good chance you have either heard of or visited this otherwise unknown town. Why? It is the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln. The Christmas story is full of small towns. We know of Bethlehem because Jesus was born there. And when we are first introduced to Mary, she is living her simple life in the obscure town of Nazareth. “In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary.” (Luke 1:26-27) We are familiar with the large role Mary plays in the Christmas story but today let’s pause to consider how insignificant her life seemed before Gabriel’s visit. She is a faithful Jew, living a very simple and normal life. Like most other young ladies in Nazareth, she was preparing for marriage and a family. She woke up each day, completed her chores, worshipped God, obeyed the law, enjoyed her food, and likely completed any number of mundane tasks. She was normal. She was obscure. God’s plan for her life brought her out of this obscurity, but that isn’t the case for most people of faith. We live in small towns and big cities. We work 9 to 5 jobs, own our own businesses, and enjoy retirement. We faithfully live to follow Jesus with little fanfare or applause. And that is the way it should be. In the middle of Christmas season, the busyness can distract us from our purpose to serve those around us. But if we can break away from the craziness, it is the perfect time to revisit our motivation for serving. “And whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:44-45) The applause or recognition of man is not the reason we serve. We serve because Jesus came to earth to serve us through his death. And as we follow him, we will learn the greatest joy comes from serving from a grateful heart. How will you serve in obscurity this season? By Philip Jones Philip and his wife Stacy have been attending Immanuel since 2015. They are blessed to be raising four kids. His passion in ministry is to help others follow Jesus through teaching, preaching, and personal discipleship.
Your Christmas Priority “When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold, and frankincense and myrrh.” (Matthew 2:10-11) The Christmas season brings so much joy and excitement as our calendars fill with holiday parties, shopping, and spending time with family. However, if these good things become the most important priority, then we will miss the true joy of Christmas. In Matthew 2, the wise men see the star of Bethlehem, the brightest light that leads them to Jesus. The wise men’s heart posture toward their Savior reminds us of the beauty of slowing down during the busiest time of year and worshipping the reason for the season. 1 - When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. When the wise men saw the light, they knew the prophecy had been fulfilled, the Savior they had read about and waited for had come. Their hearts were full of joy, which fueled their faith to follow the star for two years before finding Jesus. 2 - They saw the child with Mary his mother and they fell down and worshipped him. After waiting two long years to be in the presence of their Savior, their only response when they saw Him was to fall down and worship. I imagine the two-year journey creating doubt and frustration during the waiting; but when they finally saw Jesus, their hearts were full of worship. 3 - Then opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold, frankincense and myrrh. The wise men’s worship led to an open heart of surrender. They gave Christ the best they had of their time and gifts. What a precious reminder for us to surrender our time, gifts and plans to Christ this holiday season. To wrap up this passage in a bow, let’s reflect on this: finding our joy in Christ leads to acts of faith, faith leads to a heart of worship, and a heart of worship leads to a life of surrender. As you reflect, what is one area of your life this Christmas season where you need to slow down and refocus your joy on Jesus? By C.A. Carter
God Remembers
Fear and Doubt
An Unexpected Answer
Calm in the Chaos
A Long Silence
Reminders from the Heart of God I’m always honored to be asked to write a Saturday devotion, and my process is pretty straightforward. I pray and ask God what He wants me to say to people, and the devotion pretty much writes itself. Simple, right? This time was different. I prayed. He didn’t answer. I prayed a LOT. No response. Then late one night, He told me that this devotion is not what He wants me to tell others; it is what He wants to tell me. He knew I have been struggling with a situation and wanted to remind me of some things. My particular situation involves a prodigal. We have recently had some good developments, but also some setbacks and I was getting discouraged wondering if I was doing enough or even doing the right thing at all. Here is what God reminded me: · He’s got this · He loves them even more than I do · It is not my responsibility to “fix” anyone · I just have to keep loving them · His timing is perfect · My responsibility is to God and following His Will Maybe you have been struggling with a situation and wondering if you are doing enough or the right thing. It doesn’t really matter if it involves a prodigal or something completely different; I think my feelings are fairly universal when we struggle. Maybe His words to me will help you, too. If you are not part of a Community Group at IBC, I highly recommend that you find one. Our group has prayed for my prodigal and me for years and it is such a blessing to know that we are not alone in our struggles. And I get the honor of praying for them in their struggles and in their joys. By Jennifer Preston Jennifer and her husband, David, lead the Rural Kings Community Group from IBC Georgetown.
The Eternal Impact of Generosity “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21) When we think about generosity, it’s natural to focus on the blessings that unfold here and now—the help we provide, the joy we feel, the changes we see in the lives of others. But Scripture teaches us that true generosity carries an eternal significance. Every gift, every act of kindness, and every moment spent in selfless service leaves a mark that goes far beyond this life. Jesus Himself encouraged us not to store up treasures on earth, but to invest in “treasures in heaven” (Matthew 6:19-20). In other words, the impact of what we give in faith and love never fades away but continues to bear fruit for eternity. Paul reminded the Corinthians that generosity “produces thanksgiving to God” and brings glory to Him (2 Corinthians 9:12-13). Our giving not only meets practical needs but points people to the reality of God’s love and faithfulness. Sometimes, a simple gift or a helping hand can open someone’s heart to the hope of Christ. In this way, our generosity becomes part of God’s great story of redemption and transformation. It’s easy to underestimate the significance of what we offer or to think that only extravagant gifts matter to God. But our Savior noticed and honored the widow who gave two small coins, affirming that her giving was of great worth in God’s eyes (Mark 12:41-44). God sees the heart behind every sacrifice, however small, and promises that nothing done in His name is ever wasted. Reflect today on the eternal impact your generosity can have. When we invest in God’s Kingdom—by supporting ministries, encouraging others, or giving our time to serve—we are planting seeds whose harvest will only be fully revealed in eternity. Imagine the lives touched, the faith strengthened, and the praises offered to God because of your willingness to give. Ask God to help you live with an eternal perspective, seeing your resources as opportunities to participate in His ongoing work. Trust that your generosity, no matter its form or size, is meaningful, powerful, and part of something far greater than yourself—an impact that will last for eternity. By Jim Connell Jim is the founder of Lexington Rescue Mission, and authors JesusIsLordBlog.com, FaithAnswersPress.net, and FAQs of Faith (a mobile app)
