January 9, 2026

Matthew 7:24-29 (HCSB)
The Two Foundations
24 “Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain fell, the rivers rose, and the winds blew and pounded that house. Yet it didn’t collapse, because its foundation was on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of Mine and doesn’t act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 The rain fell, the rivers rose, the winds blew and pounded that house, and it collapsed. And its collapse was great!”
28 When Jesus had finished this sermon, the crowds were astonished at His teaching, 29 because He was teaching them like one who had authority, and not like their scribes.

Jessica Collier
I can’t read these verses without singing the song from when I was a kid “the wise man built his house upon the rock...” I loved that song but it made absolutely zero sense to 5-year-old me. I remember being at the beach and seeing houses built up high on the sand and wondering if they’d ever heard the song. The people that built those houses were clearly dumb because even I knew their house was gonna go splat. As an adult I see these verses as a call to action, to be an example for my children (and others I come in contact with) to see the practical benefits of living a godly life. Not only is Jesus the way, the Truth and the Life–following His teachings just make life WAY more enjoyable and our burdens way easier to bear. In a world where everything can get so confusing and hard, Jesus just makes sense of it all.