How to Build a Firm Foundation
STEP 1: Practice
STEP 2: Repeat Step 1
MATTHEW 7:24-27 | NIV
“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. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
The modern church, especially in America (especially in the stream that I’m in), can be afraid to use the word “practice” when it comes to our faith.
I get it.
It sounds a lot like “works.”
The problem is, those are not the same words and Jesus happened to say that “practice” is necessary—at least for those who want to survive the storms.
Life can get nasty out there.
Gale force winds of loss.
Floods of disappointment.
Hurricanes of diagnosis.
Even just a low hanging fog of stress over a long period of time.
How does one survive in this world with so much pain?
Though practice.
Yes, practice, as in, a routine—something you do regularly to build up strength and ability. The same way you learned to play the Let The Redeemed solo. The same way you trained for that 5k.
Belief alone may be enough for salvation, but it alone doesn’t provide the kind of foundation Jesus came to this earth to lead us into. Belief is essential, but it's powerless without practice.
Dallas Willard once said “Grace is not opposed to effort, it is opposed to earning.” Let go with that.
So what do we practice?
In this context, we practice Jesus’ words in Matthew 5-7. The Sermon on the Mount. The Beatitudes. Practice those. Practice poverty of spirit. Practice grief. Practice peace. Practice lustlessness. Practice secret generosity. Practice forgiveness. Practice enemy love. Practice trust.
Yes, practice it when you don’t “feel” like doing it. You aren’t being “inauthentic”, you’re just denying your corrupted flesh that no longer craves what is true and good.
Only a life molded by the constant exercise of the way of Jesus can stand before any storm and remain steadfast.
Only a life that has learned the rhythms of Jesus’ life and teachings and has adopted them into their regular life can remain anchored in the chaos of this world.
Yes, yes, yes we need faith.
And, again, all this has nothing to do with “salvation”—salvation can only come by grace through faith alone in Jesus alone.
But your foundation in this life—the rock that will never move, never give out, never fail—is formed by slow and steady practice.
This rock is the very way of Jesus.
The best part about practice is that it’s scalable. So wherever you’re at, take one small step forward.
Invite the Spirit to come alongside you and enable you to walk in new life with Jesus. And then keep inviting Him in each step you take.
Jesus promises it’s worth it.
🐑