161 of 365 - House on the Rock

​Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. Matthew 7:24
 
Two houses line the tree-canopied streets of the same neighborhood. One a stunning home on a hill with a gorgeous view. Stately, spacious, meticulously landscaped, around the clock attention, no expense spared on the interior finishes and furnishings; a showhouse for sure.

Down the street a pretty house. Nothing fancy, but functional. Built with love. A little messy here and there. Fingerprints of life visible on the walls; subtle scuffs on the study floors. A good home. A solid home.

One warm summer day an unexpected storm blows through. The neighborhood braces for hours of rain, flooding, and heavy winds. But the quaint neighborhood is no match for the powerful storm. All but a few homes demolished. No one saw this one coming and the houses everyone expected to survive are in shambles, while some of the often-overlooked homes are intact. The stately house on the hill: only scraps remaining. The simple, sturdy home: standing tall among the rubble.

The difference? A strong foundation; more attention given to its structure than to the shiny showcase features.

Time and again, Jesus teaches that the inside – the heart and our foundation – is what matters. The outside can be deceiving. The things unseen by man, but seen by God, are what is truly valued.

Working on the foundation isn’t always fun. It is hard work; unseen and unadmired by others. The world tells us to spend our time making the outside look impressive, but this does nothing to shore up the foundation to withstand the trials.
 
A slick image and clean looking façade can take a hit or two but won’t survive the big storms. And one thing we can count on is storms and trials. Only deep roots sown by abiding in Jesus, and a solid foundation built on His truth can help us weather the storms that will inevitably come.
 
Question: What can you do today to work on your “foundation”?