2016 Word of the Year – Prepare – foundations

Foundations.
What are they?

Webster’s Dictionary says:

Full Definition of foundation
1
: the act of founding

2
: a basis (as a tenet, principle, or axiom) upon which something stands or is supported

3
a : funds given for the permanent support of an institution : endowment
b : an organization or institution established by endowment with provision for future maintenance

4
: an underlying base or support; especially : the whole masonry substructure of a building

5
a : a body or ground upon which something is built up or overlaid
b : a woman’s supporting undergarment : corset
c : a cosmetic usually used as a base for makeup

The Bible has some serious warnings about the importance of foundations:
Psalm 11:3

If the foundation be destroyed, what can the righteous do?


1 Corinthians 3:11

Other foundation can no man lay than that is laid which is Jesus Christ.

Jesus described listening to his words and heeding them as building on a rock – solid foundation:

Luke 6:

…47″Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and acts on them, I will show you whom he is like:
48 he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock; and when a flood occurred, the torrent burst against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.
49 “But the one who has heard and has not acted accordingly, is like a man who built a house on the ground without any foundation; and the torrent burst against it and immediately it collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great.”

My word PREPARE has brought me to preparing the foundation, and the possibility of repairing the breaches, wherever they may be.

1 Corinthians 3:

10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it.
11 For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Christ is the foundation stone.
Christ is the stone the builders rejected, and became the cornerstone. (Mt 21:42; Ps 118:22-23)

Foundation to what? Cornerstone for what?
Salvation!
Psalm 118:

…21 I shall give thanks to You, for You have answered me, And You have become my salvation.
22 The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief corner stone.
23 This is the LORD’S doing; It is marvelous in our eyes.…

Jesus Christ is the only foundation – for faith and salvation.

1 Peter 2:4

As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him—

Jesus isn’t a dead stone, set as a monument – He is risen – He is alive – He is the living cornerstone!

and we are part of that building:
1 Peter 2:5-6

5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual housefn to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
6 For in Scripture it says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”

We are to be building upon the foundation!

1 Corinthians 3:

11 For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
12 Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,
13 each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work.…

The parables about pruning would also fit here.

We are to be building with Gold, Silver and Precious Stones – things that will endure the fiery trials that will come upon us. James talks about how to make it through fiery trials, but the assumption is that the foundation is already laid, and solid. Psalms and Proverbs talk about obtaining Wisdom rather than gold. Knowledge and understanding is better than silver. The author of 119 talks about how precious is the law of God, more so than any riches.
But before we build, we must have the foundation.

Hebrews 3:6

6 But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are his house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory.

In this passage of Hebrews, over and over we are warned to harden NOT our hearts –

  • the deceitfulness of sin would harden our hearts.
  • An unbelieving heart turns away from God.
  • Not knowing God’s ways will harden one’s heart.

The cure? – hear His voice – hearken to His voice – obey His commands – do not be dull of hearing.

As I said, I found warnings about the foundation.
Ps 11:3 – IF THE FOUNDATION BE DESTROYED – what can the righteous do?

God sees. God knows. His word is quick and powerful and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit , and of the joints and the marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Heb 4:12)
And in Jesus, we have a high priest that cannot….well, Hebrews says it best:

Hebrews 4:

14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.
16 Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 5

12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!
13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness.
14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

God provided a way that we could rebuild our foundation, as long as we are building on the solid rock. That will be the next blog!

Me and My Love

Me and My Love

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,

~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

I want to thank Blue Letter Bible and Bible Gateway for the ability to search the Bible online.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” –
from My Utmost for His highest

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