Thoughts for the Day

Jesus said, ‘Why do you call me “Lord, Lord”, and do not do what I tell you? I will show you what someone is like who comes to me, hears my words, and acts on them. That one is like a man building a house, who dug deeply and laid the foundation on rock; when a flood arose, the river burst against that house but could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not act is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the river burst against it, immediately it fell, and great was the ruin of that house.’

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

When my two boys were small and we were on holiday in Northumbria, staying on Lindisfarne (Holy island), one Sunday I left the boys and my husband on the deserted north beach to go to the parish church of St Mary the Virgin on the island. As I left them the boys were planning to have a dip in the water and then see who could build the biggest sand-castle.

When I returned there were two sandcastles, both with turrets and a moat. It was a warm day, the waves were almost non-existent, and they had built the sand-castles just below the high-water mark. However, suddenly a rogue wave came in, and attacked one castle's moat and then demolished its walls. The other castle remained intact though! At first I couldn't see why it still stood strong, but then I noticed that it had been erected on a very, very, large stone, which had been discovered in the sand when they had begun building.

In a year when there have been widespread floods, earthquakes, typhoons, and fires in our world this little parable is apposite. Unless our faith is dug upon deep foundations it will crumble at the first hint of difficulty in life. To say "I believe in Jesus!" or "I believe in God!" is not enough. Faith needs to be in our very being, written like words in a stick of holiday rock from beginning to end. Only then can we cope with life's difficulties, whatever they may be.

Lord Jesus Christ,
increase our faith day-by-day
that it may stand the storms of life,
which affect us all at some time.
Keep us strong when assailed by temptation,
by sickness, by the actions of others,
or by natural disaster.
May we turn to You in times of trouble,
confident that You will answer
as is best for us.
Amen.