I pray that you are hearing God speak through our message series on having A Firm Foundation. We are studying Matthew 7 and Jesus’s words to “hear and do” what God is saying to us. This process of “hearing and doing” is how we build a firm foundation for many aspects of our lives. We are building our families, our church, our careers, and even our relationship with Jesus. All of these things require a firm foundation so that we can endure when trials come.

The first two weeks of our series we studied what a church and a family with a firm foundation looks like. This Sunday we are going to study what the Bible says about building our career on a firm foundation. This is important to us because of how God sees work. He doesn’t view our career like we often do, a way to make money. He views our work as worship because He calls us to do it as unto Him.

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

- Colossians 3:17

Jesus views our work as worship because He calls us to do it as unto Him.

Seeing our work as worship is an important part of building a firm foundation, but it is only part of the puzzle. In addition to having a healthy view of work, we must also have a healthy view of rest. God worked six days and rested on the seventh. This pattern of work and rest is a model for our lives, and a promise for our future. When we serve God with an obedient heart we are rewarded with an eternity of rest. The writer of Hebrews says it this way.

As it is said, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.

- Hebrews 3:15-19

When we serve God with an obedient heart we are rewarded with an eternity of rest.

The Israelites “heard” the word of God and then they “rebelled.” Because of their rebellion they could not enter the rest that was promised. This is exactly what Jesus is teaching in Matthew 7 about having a firm foundation. When you “hear the word and do it” you will build a life that will withstand trials, and you will receive eternal rest as your reward. The same offer was given to Israel, but because they lacked the faith to “hear the word and do it” they collapsed under the weight of trials in the wilderness. The charge from Hebrews and from Jesus is worship God by obeying His word. When you do that you will be rewarded with eternal rest.

If you would like to read ahead and study the Bible before Sunday, check out Matthew 7:24-27, Genesis 2, Colossians 3:17, and Hebrews 3-4.

God bless,

Marshall

A few things to pray for

As you spend time in prayer this week, join with us by praying for these things:

Pray for a healthy balance of work and rest.
Pray that local churches will lead people to Jesus and help them build firm foundations.
Pray for the church to be known as a people who serve the lost, love each other, and desire Jesus.