The Foundation Years

Luke 6: 47 - 49

⁴⁷ As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. ⁴⁸ They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. ⁴⁹ But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”

Though there is much talk about claiming the promises of God (that might inadvertently lean too much into "prosperity gospelling), there are also the hard times that everyone goes though, both Christians and non-Christians.

Living the Christian life is not about living the Good life, but having a Christ-like perspective especially when things do not go your way. The passage today reminds me that additionally, Christian living needs to be nurtured and built over time so that in times of hardship we can give a Christian response and truly show that we are made of meaner stuff when push comes to shove. 

As a parent, I would like to give Emma the best that life has to offer, but to me that does not necessarily mean making her as comfortable as possible. It means to allow her to build character, show compassion, respond with grace, see beyond herself and kick-ass when the occasion calls for it. Of course she should also be guided by her spiritual foundation that our house will be built on.