Build: September 17, 2013

TODAY’S WORD FOR TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 17, 2013.

BUILD

DEFINITION:

Construct; increase and strengthen; erect; mold; shape.

SCRIPTURE:

Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain that build it. Psalm 127:1

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

We can remember the Sunday school song that we sang when we were kids about the man who built his house on the sand and as a result it could not withstand a storm. The song went on to tell about the wise man that built his house on the rock and it stood firm in the storm. This was because it was built on a solid foundation.

This song came from the portion of the Sermon on the Mount that Jesus preached to the multitudes when He was on this earth. (Matthew 7: 24-27) Jesus had just warned them, "to watch out for false prophets." He then proceeded to give a warning to those who profess to belong to God but have no relationship with Him. He used the illustration of the wise man and the foolish man.

First, Jesus says that whoever hears His words and does them will be like the wise man who built his house on the rock. The rock is Christ Jesus. Just as the house that was built on a solid foundation of rock was able to stand firm when the storms came and the winds beat against it, so will the man who builds his life on the solid foundation of Christ. He will be able to stand through the storms of life.

He then goes on to say that when the rain comes down, the pressures of this world we live in, and the floods and winds come our way the house (our lives) will not fall apart because our foundation is built on the rock, Christ Jesus.

Jesus also then said that anyone that hears what He says and does not put into practice what He says is likened to the foolish man who builds his house on sand. When the rains, floods and winds of life come and beat on the house it will fall. And He says: "AND GREAT WAS THE FALL."

On what are you building your life? Are you building on the "things" of this world or are you building on the commandments that God gave us years ago through Moses His servant? Are you laying up treasures for yourself in heaven? Is your house (your life) built on the rock, Christ Jesus or the sand?

In Psalms 127:1, the psalmist warns us that unless we allow the Lord to build our house (our life) we are laboring in vain. No matter how hard we work to accomplish great things, only what is done for the Lord will last.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in II Timothy 1:7.

For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.

PRAYER:

Encourage my heart today to build my house on the precepts and commandments that You have given us in Your Word. Help me to be a doer of Your Word and not a hearer only. Help me to lead my family in the way of righteousness and that together we will build our house, our lives on You the rock.