UPDATED Today’s AMI QT blog, written by Pastor Mark Chun of Radiance Christian Church in S.F., was originally posted on March 21, 2013; it has been updated. Mark is a graduate of University of California, San Diego (BS) and Talbot School of Theology (M.Div.).
Devotional Thought for This Morning
“The Most Secure Foundation”
Psalm 26:8-12 (ESV)
O Lord, I love the habitation of your house and the place where your glory dwells. 9 Do not sweep my soul away with sinners, nor my life with bloodthirsty men, 10 in whose hands are evil devices, and whose right hands are full of bribes. 11 But as for me, I shall walk in my integrity; redeem me, and be gracious to me. 12 My foot stands on level ground; in the great assembly I will bless the Lord.
One thing that has been made very clear amid the pandemic is this: The most secure foundation upon which we can build our lives is not our careers or being fit; rather, it’s God alone and the worship of Him. The psalmist expresses his genuine love for worship as a reason why his fate should not be the same as that of the wicked.
As God’s creation, we are made for one glorious purpose, which is to worship Him with our entire being. Sin has robbed us of that joy, and as a result, worshiping of idols has taken the place of the true worship of God. It is impossible for man to exist apart from worship; it is just a matter of what we decide to bow our lives to. John Calvin called the human mind a factory of idols because of our tendency to worship everything else but the One who came to save us. As said at the outset, money, career, relationships, and our own ambitions are poor substitutes for the one true God. Just as the classic hymn proclaims, “On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand”, this psalm challenges us to place our feet on the unshakeable ground of a life devoted to Christ alone. If that’s your positive take away from the pandemic, then, you are more ready today than before to faithfully complete your journey on earth.
So, spend a few moments to worship God this morning. Declare to Him your desire to be in his presence and to make Christ the only object of your worship. (A couple of songs I would recommend is “In Christ Alone” by Stuart Townsend and “Cornerstone” by Hillsong.)
Prayer: Lord, I confess that my heart can be pulled in a million directions. Though I want to love you with all my heart, mind, and soul, it is difficult to keep my spiritual focus amid my hectic life. Help me to see that building my life on anything less than the rock of Christ, is to invite disaster into my life. May You be enthroned in the highest place of my heart as I give You my worship. Amen.
Bible Reading for Today: Isaiah 34
Lunch Break Study
Read Matthew 7:24-27 (ESV): “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”
Questions to Consider
- What does it mean to build our house on the rock?
- How will our lives be tested and judged by God? (1 Corinthians 3:13)
- What is the connection between our obedience to God’s word and our love for Him? (John 14:15)
Notes
- It is important to remember that the Christian faith is not about responding to the call of Christ with a short flurry of activity, but it is about building a foundation of lifelong commitment and persevering obedience. These things will sustain your spiritual life, as the storms of life will come, soon or later.
- 1 Corinthians 13:3 teaches that all our lives will be tested by fire on the day of judgment. Whatever we have built on the foundation of Christ, whether it be gold, silver, hay, or straw, will determine the eternal reward of the works we have done on earth. (1 Cor. 13:4).
- The description of love in the Bible is never based on sentiment alone. Love is always ascribed to an action and the love of Christ cannot be divorced from our obedience to his commandments. In fact, the great test of love is our willingness to obey all that He has commanded us to do.
Evening Reflection
As this day ends, reflect the way that you have spent today. Were you wise with your time, money, and words? Pray for God’s help in numbering the days you have been given. In these tumultuous and unprecedented times, remember that there is only one thing that remains constant, Jesus Christ who is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Build your lives on that truth.