Resolved to...

By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.          - 1 Corinthians 3:10-15

The gist of it? What we are doing here matters. The things we do on earth have significant meaning both now and into the future.

These verses are specifically for Christians; Christians who knew they were saved by grace, but were not living a life in response to that grace. These verses are not saying we need to do good works to earn our salvation, but instead are saying we ought to desire to do good on earth in response to the most amazing gift we could ever hope to receive.

For a Christian, Jesus is always the foundation, but what are you building on top of that foundation? Are you building with precious stones, or something else? For a lot of people being a Christian is just something that you do, not something you are. There is no real life change. We show up at church, we sing a couple songs, maybe sample the communion. But when we get home … nothing changes. If someone followed you around Monday through Friday, would they be able to tell there was something different about you? Would they see the light of Christ shining through you?

Here is the challenge this year. Resolve to follow Jesus. We are called to be a light in the darkness, if we are all honest, we can all shine a little brighter.

If you have been reading this blog for any amount of time, you know I love giving practical steps. This week, however, I am going to ask you to do two things.

1. Read next week’s post for a few practical steps; and
2. Pray to learn more of who God is, to grow in your understanding of all that He has revealed in His Word.

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