“Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” (Matthew 7:24)

Foundations matter. When your foundation isn’t solid, catastrophe could ensue. Jesus taught something similar near the end of His Sermon on the Mount. In Matthew 7: 24-27, He contrasts two builders, one who built on a rock, another on sand. When a storm inevitably came, only the house with a solid foundation was left standing.

What does this mean for us? Jesus clearly states that our lives must be built through obedience and trust upon Him. When we rest in Him, our lives can find solid ground through God’s power and unending grace.

Christ doesn’t promise that we’ll never face storms. But He does say that when He’s our rock, those storms will never wash away our faith fortified foundation in Him.

Daily Questions

1. How has your faith helped you to weather the worst storms you’ve faced?
2. What are some practical ways you can strengthen your faith?

Daily Thoughts

Jesus, help us to surrender whatever we have to You, knowing You can multiply a little into a lot.

John 6: 4-14

“The Jewish Passover Festival was near. When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, ‘Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?’ He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.”

“Philip answered him, ‘It would take more than a half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bit.'”

“Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, ‘Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?'”

“Jesus said, ‘Have the people sit down.’ There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down, about five thousand men were there. Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.”

“When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, ‘Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.’ So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.”

“After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, ‘Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.'”

Bonus Information

The feeding of the 5,000 is the only miracle besides Jesus’ resurrection that’s reported in all four gospels. Quantitatively, this is the biggest miracle Jesus performed, with potentially more than 20,000 beneficiaries. “The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.” Mark tells us this was a “remote place,” and the disciples wanted to send the people away, so they could get food for themselves. But Jesus ordered His disciples to feed them. He challenged both their faith, they didn’t have the means or resources, and their compassion. Seeing the needs of others, Jesus wanted them to make these needs their responsibility as well.