Unshakeable…….

Unshakeable…….

I have very fond memories of the Pastor I was raised under. He was not perfect by any means, but he was a man who loved God and loved the people of his church. On Sunday morning he would stand outside the door of his office and greet everyone as they entered the building. As it got closer to the beginning of the service and people were taking their seats, he would walk up and down the isles shaking hands and welcoming everyone. There was a genuine love and connection with his congregation. He loved the Scriptures and although had little more than a Bible School education was able to teach with great passion and conviction. He had memorized many Scriptures that, to this day, when I hear them, I think of him. One of those many verses is 1Corinthians 15:58: Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. (KJV, the version he quoted from) He would quote this verse to every new member as they received, what he called, “The right hand of fellowship.”

I was reminded of that verse this morning as I was reading through Luke 6. This is a wonderful chapter that has many things that could be written about, but this is what really struck me, the thought of an unshakeable house.

Why do you call me Lord, Lord, and not do what I tell you? Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great. (ESV)

Is anyone struggling with some shakiness today? I have to admit, when I look at the conditions of our nation and think about how things have changed in a matter of a few months, I get a little uneasy. The economy….unemployment….giving greater power to the UN….our backing away from our traditional strong support of Israel….nationalized healthcare….the governmental takeover of the automobile industry and our banks….lack of support for the idea of marriage being between a man and a woman…..abortion….the list goes on and on, doesn’t it? But in these verses we find the answer on how to become unshakeable….knowing and obeying the Word of God. According to Luke 6, when we listen to God’s Word and obey them, we are building on a deep and strong foundation. It is a foundation so strong and deep that the strongest forces of nature will not be able to destroy it. Knowing God’s Word and living in obedience to His Words gives us the ability to be “Steadfast, unmoveable, and always abounding in the work of the Lord.” It gives us the courage to hang in there in the face of incredible opposition, even the attack of the enemy himself.

So today, I want to encourage you with the challenge of getting to know God, His Word and then applying them. If you’re already doing that, Praise God! If you need to develop the habit of a regular time of Bible study and prayer, why not begin today? This is best remedy for any shakiness you may be experiencing.