Drawn to the Gospel

Christian singer and songwriter Pat Barrett once shared the story behind his song Build My Life. He said that when your life begins to shake—whether through job change, grief, or loss—see it as an invitation from God to examine what you’ve really been standing on. While in theory we may proclaim that Jesus is our foundation, our true foundation often becomes clear only when life shakes us.

It’s no wonder Jesus ends His Sermon on the Mount by talking about two foundations: rock or sand. He paints the picture vividly: one man builds his house on rock, another on sand. Both face storms and are shaken. But only the house on the rock endures. From Jesus’s perspective, there are really only two kinds of people: those who hear and obey His words, and those who don’t.

This kind of commitment is increasingly unpopular and opposed today. It is the narrow way that leads to life, in contrast to the wide way that feels much freer but leads to destruction. Jesus even warns:

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” (Matt 7:21)

In other words, Jesus challenges our half-hearted admiration and reminds us that following Him requires wholehearted obedience. This is not a call to ‘try harder’, but rather an obedience that flows from knowing Him and being known by Him. Anything less leaves us standing on a shaky foundation.

Reflection:

• What would it look like to build my life on Jesus and His words this week?
• What shaky foundations do I tend to rely on?

This devotion is sent weekly to staff during school terms. It has been lightly edited for a general audience.