My Daily Pause

Carl Heinrich Bloch (1834–1890) – The Sermon On the Mount

Christ tells us in Matthew 7:21-23 that not everyone that says they are living as a follower of Jesus will make it into heaven.

We have to be doing his will.

The thought of that should scare more people. Really, the thought of that should concern everyone that believes God is righteous and just. Both the saved and the lost will have been held up to God’s standards, so it is important to make sure we know exactly what those standards are. To some of us he will have no choice but to say “…depart from me, I never knew you …” (Matthew 7:23)

Thankfully, Jesus goes on to tell us how to avoid that – he says to “hear these words of mine and do them!” He likens that act to building a rock solid foundation that will support us throughout this earthly lifetime. (Matthew 7:24-27)

Here are a few random ideas for building a rock solid godly lifestyle:

• Avoid screen time (T.V./Computer/Smartphone) that feeds you with “off-color” suggestive programming – they dull your senses to offensive material
• Spend more time with people also trying to get to heaven – It helps control temptation
• Challenge or research teachings that are different from what you are used to hearing – You will either learn from or correct someone what the Bible says

Obviously, I can’t leave off more Bible study. That alone should be the greatest portion of your foundation building activities. Knowing what the Bible actually says and not taking another’s word for it is critical to your salvation!

What are some things you can change to build a better foundation for you and your family?