A Lasting Foundation
THE PERSON WHO PRAYS AND READS THE BIBLE EVERY DAY IS BUILDING A SOLID FOUNDATION.
Bible Reading of the Day: Read Matthew 7:24-27.
Verse of the Day: “Disaster strikes like a cyclone, whirling the wicked away, but the godly have a lasting foundation” (Proverbs 10:25).
“I don’t see how Grandpa does it,” Tyler told his dad.
They stood beside a great pile of logs and were preparing to stack the logs in a wooden frame Dad had built to shelter their woodpile.
“What do you mean?” Dad asked. He and Tyler had begun the first row of logs, placing them firmly side by side on the ground.
“Well, I don’t know, it’s like Grandpa has arthritis, and he has to take care of Grandma because she has ‘Old-Timer’s Disease.’” He handed his dad a couple of logs from the pile.
“That’s ‘Alzheimer’s Disease,’ Ty,” Dad said.
“Whatever,” Tyler answered. “It’s just like he has all these problems, but he’s still the best Christian there is.” He handed his dad another log.
Dad nodded. “I see what you mean,” he said. “You’re right, your grandfather has been through a lot of hard times, especially since Grandma got Alzheimer’s.”
Tyler tossed a log on the ground in a haphazard way. “Wait a minute,” Dad said. “Let’s be more careful than that. See, if the bottom row is good and solid, then the rest of the woodpile won’t fall down.”
When Dad straightened again, he looked at the neat row of logs that formed the foundation of their woodpile. “Now that I think about it, Tyler, that’s exactly how your grandfather survives all the storms he’s been through.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, Grandpa’s like this woodpile. He has a solid foundation, because he reads his Bible and prays every day. He obeys what he reads and lives what he prays. Jesus said a person like that is like a man who builds his house on a rock. Winds and storms may blow against the house, but it won’t fall down because it has a firm foundation.”
Tyler pointed to the woodpile. “Just like if that bottom row is straight, the stack won’t fall over.”
Dad nodded. “Right.”
“I see what you mean, Dad.”
“Do you?” Dad asked. “Because I think we could both do better at building that kind of foundation in our lives.”
“You’re right,” Tyler said. “I’m gonna start as soon as we’re done stacking wood.”
TO DISCUSS: Which of the two people described in today’s Bible reading are you most like? Are you building a lasting foundation against life’s storms and disasters? If not, why not? If so, how? How can you start building that kind of foundation in your life?
TO PRAY: “Lord, we want to build a lasting foundation against life’s storms and disasters. Draw us close to you through prayer and the reading of your Word.”