Listen

“Everybody who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise builder who built a house on bedrock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the wind blew and beat against that house. It didn’t fall because it was firmly set on bedrock. But everybody who hears these words of mine and doesn’t put them into practice will be like a fool who built a house on sand. The rain fell, the floods came, and the wind blew and beat against that house. It fell and was completely destroyed.”

Matthew 7:24-27

Think

When I was in high school, I used to help build houses each Spring. Laying the foundation was always tough, unglamorous work. You couldn’t even see most of it! But if you anchored it and leveled it with care, it made building the rest of the house so much easier.

Bedrock? That’s solid.

We all want to be wise builders. In our working, learning, and loving, we want to build lasting goodness in our world.

The pressures of our daily lives sometimes crack us to make foolish choices though. Yet God offers a fresh start of justice, mercy, hope, and love. Choosing anew that life in God’s grace can be tough though; living it out in a life of service to others can be unglamorous, unseen work.

God’s foundation of grace is solid ground to build our lives on, withstanding the rain of our tears, the winds of change and growth, the challenges that beat against our every day, even our own momentary foolishness. It’s bedrock. May we rest a bit easier on that solid foundation.

Molly Logan

Pray

Thank you for offering me a fresh start to build and rest, God.

I know our world rarely looks at housing foundations until there is a problem.

Challenge me today though to seek out the cracks in my living and do the tough, unglamorous work of rebuilding in your grace.

Then help me to stand as a home for others to encounter your grace afresh.

Amen.

Go

Certainly the faithful love of the Lord hasn’t ended; certainly God’s compassion isn’t through! They are renewed every morning. Great is your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22-23

Whether it’s morning or evening in your day, God’s grace is dawning.

May you be renewed by that fresh start and choose to live out that compassion.