Christ Church Daily Devotion Jan 7 2024

Jesus tells a parable about two houses - one built on a rock and one on sand. The house on the rock stands firm during a storm, while the one on sand collapses. Jesus emphasizes the importance of building our lives on a solid foundation. He reminds us that storms will come in various forms, and we need to be prepared by staying connected to God. Many people neglect their relationship with God and then wonder why they don't feel His presence during difficult times. It is important to strengthen our foundation and prepare for the storms of life. In worship, we will explore ways to do this. One option is to commit to attending worship regularly throughout the year. Let's start the year off right by attending today. Welcome to Christ Church's Daily Devotion for January 7th, 2024. Today we will be reading from Matthew chapter 7, verses 24 through 29. Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house. Yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house. And it fell with a great crash. When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority and not as their teachers of the law. Jesus was a master storyteller who used images from everyday life to play his stories in the mind of his listeners. This is one of those parables that is easy to grasp because of the image of the two houses. We have all seen the results of storms and the power that both water and wind can have on most anything in their path. Certainly in the time when he was sharing this story, the people would have known the difference in a house that had a good foundation and one that did not, particularly when the storms came. Jesus reminds all of us of the need to build our life on a solid foundation. There are various kinds of storms that come to us throughout our life. Some of them are physical, like injuries, illness, and diseases. Others are emotional and relational, like traumas of different kinds that cause us deep grief. Loss of a job or a betrayal by someone close definitely qualify as major storms. No matter what form they come in, it is vital that we prepare for them as best we can. Our primary way of preparing is doing everything we can to stay as closely connected to our Lord as possible. Too many people, including Christians, do very little to deepen their relationship with God and wonder why they don't feel God's presence when the storms come. Today, in our worship services, we will explore some of those means we have to best prepare for the storms of life. As you come to worship today, be thinking about this question, How solid is the foundation of my life? Today's personal worship option. Why not start the year off right by committing to be in worship in person at least 40 Sundays this year, or some other number you choose. Let today be the first one of those. We'll see you in worship at Christ Church.