EPIPHANY DEVOTIONS — YEAR A
WEEK 8 — LIVING AS LIGHT
February 23 – March 1, 2026
Epiphany began with a single light — a star guiding seekers to a newborn King. Over the weeks, that light has grown and spread: shining from the manger to the Jordan River, from mountains of glory to villages of need, from the heart of Christ to the hearts of His followers. Now, in this final week of Epiphany, the light settles not just on us, but within us.
Week 8 — Living as Light invites us to embody everything Epiphany has revealed.
No longer are we just witnesses to the light; we are carriers of it. Jesus’ great sermon on the mount — from which most of this week’s readings come — shows us what it means to live daily as illuminated people in a dark world: loving enemies, trusting God instead of worrying, investing in eternal treasures, refraining from judgment, and practicing persistent faith.
Each teaching begins with action. Jesus doesn’t describe abstract theology; He describes a lifestyle — a way of being light that transforms ordinary habits into sacred witness:
The light that once came to us now shines through us. This is the natural conclusion of Epiphany — not the fading of brightness, but its embodiment. The people who once watched the Light of the World now become lights in the world.
As we prepare to step from Epiphany’s brilliance into Lent’s shadows, these final days encourage us to live what we have seen: to walk in radiant faith before a watching world, to act on what we’ve heard, and to let our lives quietly preach the sermon of grace and truth.
This Week’s Focus: Illumination in Action
Epiphany ends not when the light goes out, but when it moves in — transforming hearts into beacons and believers into living reflections of the Christ they follow.
The season of revelation becomes the season of reflection. What began as God revealed to us becomes God revealed through us.
DAY 50 — Love Your Enemies
Monday - Scripture: Matthew 5:43-44
"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."
In 1994, during the Rwandan genocide, Pastor John Ndayisenga watched his family murdered by neighbors he had known for years. When the killing stopped, he faced an impossible choice: flee the country or learn to live alongside his family's killers.
He chose to stay. For months, he could barely speak to the men who had destroyed his life.
But slowly, he began praying for them—not because he felt loving, but because Jesus commanded it. "I started with five minutes a day," he said. "Just asking God to help these men find peace."
Years later, one of his family's killers came to him seeking forgiveness. Through tears, the man said: "I don't understand how you stayed, how you kept greeting me on the street. Your kindness broke something in me." Today, they work together on reconciliation projects throughout Rwanda.
Reflection:
Jesus took the Jewish law about loving neighbors and turned it inside out. He wasn't just expanding the definition of "neighbor"—He was redefining what it means to be human in God's kingdom.
Loving enemies isn't just about being nice to difficult people. It's about recognizing that even those who harm us are created in God's image and capable of transformation. Our love becomes a tool God uses to break cycles of hatred and revenge.
This isn't natural human behavior—it's supernatural kingdom behavior. It requires drawing on God's love rather than our own emotions.
Who are the "enemies" in your life—people who have hurt you, oppose you, or represent values you reject? How might God be calling you to love them in practical ways?
Prayer:
Lord, help me love people who have hurt me, not because they deserve it, but because You command it.
Change my heart toward my enemies and use my love to transform them.
Give me supernatural love that breaks cycles of hatred and revenge.
Amen.
DAY 51 — Perfect as Your Father Is Perfect
Tuesday - Scripture: Matthew 5:48
"Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."
In 2016, violinist Hilary Hahn was preparing for what many considered the most difficult piece in the classical repertoire. For months, she practiced eight hours a day, but every performance had small mistakes. Critics and even fellow musicians told her the piece was impossible to play perfectly.
Hahn's teacher gave her different advice: "Stop trying to play it perfectly. Start trying to play it completely—with your whole heart, mind, and soul. Perfection isn't about never making mistakes; it's about holding nothing back."
At the premiere, Hahn missed two notes but played with such passion and commitment that the audience gave her a ten-minute standing ovation. Later, she said: "I learned that biblical perfection isn't about flawless performance—it's about complete devotion."
Reflection:
The Greek word for "perfect" (teleios) doesn't mean "without flaws." It means "complete," "mature," or "having reached its intended purpose." Jesus isn't calling us to flawless performance but to wholehearted devotion.
God's "perfection" is seen in His complete, unconditional love—He "makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous." His perfection is characterized by inclusive, generous love.
Our calling to be "perfect" means learning to love with the same completeness and generosity that God shows. It's about maturity, not performance.
What would it look like to love with "perfect" (complete, wholehearted) love in your relationships? How can you move from trying to perform flawlessly to loving completely?
Prayer:
Lord, help me understand that Your kind of perfection is about complete love, not perfect performance.
Teach me to love with my whole heart, not just when it's convenient or safe.
Make me mature in love, reflecting Your generous, inclusive heart.
Amen.
DAY 52 — Do Not Worry
Wednesday - Scripture: Matthew 6:26-27
"Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?"
In 2020, when COVID-19 shut down restaurants nationwide, chef Roberto Martinez watched his life's work collapse overnight. His family restaurant, built over 30 years, was facing bankruptcy. For weeks, he couldn't sleep, constantly calculating how much money they were losing each day.
His eight-year-old daughter found him at 2 AM, pacing and making lists. "Papá," she said, "remember what you taught me about the birds? You said they don't have refrigerators, but God feeds them every day. Are we going to be okay?"
That conversation changed everything. Roberto stopped obsessing over what he couldn't control and started focusing on what he could: adapting his business model, applying for assistance, and trusting God with the outcome. The restaurant not only survived but emerged stronger.
Reflection:
Jesus wasn't promoting irresponsibility—He was challenging anxiety. The birds don't plan or save, but humans are called to both plan AND trust. The issue isn't planning; it's worrying about things beyond our control.
"Are you not of more value than they?"—Jesus reminds us of our identity as God's beloved children. If God cares for creatures that can't even pray, how much more will He care for us?
"Can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?"—Worry is not only useless; it's counterproductive. It steals energy we could use for constructive action.
What specific worries are consuming mental and emotional energy that you could redirect toward constructive action? How can you distinguish between responsible planning and destructive anxiety?
Prayer:
Lord, help me distinguish between responsible planning and destructive worry.
Remind me of my value to You when anxiety tries to convince me I'm on my own.
Teach me to focus my energy on what I can control while trusting You with what I cannot. Amen.
DAY 53 — Treasures in Heaven
Thursday - Scripture: Matthew 6:19-21
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
In 2019, tech entrepreneur David Kim sold his successful startup for $50 million. Instead of buying mansions and luxury cars, he kept living in his small apartment and used most of the money to fund education programs in underserved communities.
Friends thought he was crazy. "You could live like a king," they said. David replied: "I am living like a king—just not the kind of king this world recognizes. I'm investing in the kind of wealth that won't disappear in the next economic crash or when I die."
Five years later, his education programs had helped thousands of kids graduate from high school and college. "Those achievements feel more valuable to me than any stock portfolio," he said. "When I'm on my deathbed, I won't be thinking about my investment accounts."
Reflection:
Jesus isn't condemning all earthly possessions—He's challenging where we place our ultimate security and identity. Earthly treasures are temporary and vulnerable; heavenly treasures are eternal and secure.
"Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also"—This is both a warning and a spiritual strategy. If we want to love God more, we need to invest more in His kingdom. Our hearts follow our investments.
Heavenly treasures aren't just about the afterlife—they're about what has eternal value: relationships, character, service to others, and growth in love.
What are you currently "storing up" most energy and resources for? How can you invest more intentionally in things that have eternal value?
Prayer:
Lord, help me invest in treasures that will last beyond this life.
Show me where I'm placing my security in things that can be lost or stolen.
Align my heart with eternal values by guiding my investments of time and resources.
Amen.
DAY 54 — Do Not Judge
Friday - Scripture: Matthew 7:1-3
"Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. Why do you see the speck in your neighbor's eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye?"
In 2017, social worker Lisa Chen was assigned to a family where the teenage daughter was consistently missing school. Lisa's initial assessment was harsh: "Irresponsible parents, probably drug-related issues." She went in ready to document violations and recommend removing the children.
But when she actually sat down with the family, she discovered the truth: the parents were working three jobs between them to avoid eviction, the daughter was staying home to babysit her younger siblings because they couldn't afford childcare, and the family was doing everything possible to stay together.
"I had judged them without knowing their story," Lisa said later. "Once I understood their situation, I could actually help instead of just criticize. My job became connecting them with resources instead of punishing them for being poor."
Reflection:
Jesus isn't prohibiting all moral discernment—throughout the Gospels, He clearly identifies good and evil. He's warning against hypocritical, self-righteous judgment that condemns others while ignoring our own faults.
The "speck" and "log" metaphor is deliberately absurd—someone with a wooden beam sticking out of their eye trying to remove a tiny splinter from someone else's eye. Jesus uses humor to show how ridiculous our judgmental attitudes can be.
The goal isn't to avoid ever evaluating behavior, but to approach others with humility, recognizing our own need for grace.
Where might you be seeing "specks" in others while missing "logs" in yourself? How can you practice discernment without falling into judgmental attitudes?
Prayer:
Lord, help me see my own faults clearly before focusing on others' failures.
Give me humility to remember my own need for grace when dealing with difficult people.
Teach me the difference between wise discernment and destructive judgment.
Amen.
DAY 55 — Ask, Seek, Knock
Saturday - Scripture: Matthew 7:7-8
"Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened."
In 2018, single mother Carmen Rodriguez was struggling to find affordable housing in an expensive city while working two part-time jobs. Every application was rejected—her income was too low, her credit wasn't perfect, or the timing didn't work out.
Instead of giving up, Carmen began praying specifically and taking systematic action. She asked church members for housing leads, searched online daily for new listings, and knocked on doors of property management companies to introduce herself personally.
After four months of persistent effort, a property manager called her. "I've never had someone be so consistent and professional," he said. "We have a unit opening next month, and I want to offer it to you first." Carmen got a beautiful apartment at below-market rent because her persistence impressed someone who had the power to help.
Reflection:
Jesus uses three progressive verbs: ask (verbal request), seek (active searching), and knock (persistent effort). He's describing escalating levels of engagement, not just passive hoping.
"Everyone who asks receives"—This isn't a blank check for anything we want, but a promise that God responds to genuine seeking. The context suggests we're asking for good things that align with God's character.
The progression implies that sometimes we need to move from just asking to actively searching for solutions, and sometimes from searching to persistently pursuing specific opportunities.
What situation in your life needs you to move from just asking God to actively seeking and persistently knocking on doors He opens?
Prayer:
Lord, help me be persistent in pursuing what You've placed on my heart.
Show me when to ask, when to actively search, and when to knock persistently.
Give me wisdom to recognize the doors You're opening and courage to walk through them. Amen.
DAY 56 — Two Foundations
Sunday - Scripture: Matthew 7:24-27
"Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand."
In 2005, Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, but one neighborhood stood out to disaster researchers. In the Lower Ninth Ward, most houses were completely destroyed—except for a cluster of homes that suffered minimal damage. Investigation revealed the difference: those homes had been built by a contractor who insisted on going deeper than city codes required to reach bedrock foundation.
The contractor, Jerome Williams, later said: "People thought I was being excessive, charging more because I dug deeper. But when you're building for the long term, you can't cut corners on the foundation. Everything else can be repaired or replaced, but if the foundation fails, you lose everything."
After Katrina, Jerome's phone never stopped ringing. Everyone wanted him to build their new house.
Reflection:
Jesus ends the Sermon on the Mount with a story about foundations, not feelings. Both builders heard the same teaching, but only one acted on it. Knowledge without application is like building on sand.
"The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew"—Jesus assumes storms will come to everyone. The question isn't whether we'll face difficulties, but whether our foundation will hold.
Hearing God's words is not enough; we must act on them. The difference between wisdom and foolishness is the gap between knowledge and obedience.
What specific teaching of Jesus have you heard but not yet acted on? How can you begin building your life on the rock foundation of obedience to His words?
Prayer:
Lord, help me not just hear Your words but act on them consistently.
Show me where I'm building on sand instead of rock in my choices and priorities.
Give me wisdom to go deeper in obedience, even when it's more difficult or expensive. Amen.
WEEK 8 — LIVING AS LIGHT
February 23 – March 1, 2026
Epiphany began with a single light — a star guiding seekers to a newborn King. Over the weeks, that light has grown and spread: shining from the manger to the Jordan River, from mountains of glory to villages of need, from the heart of Christ to the hearts of His followers. Now, in this final week of Epiphany, the light settles not just on us, but within us.
Week 8 — Living as Light invites us to embody everything Epiphany has revealed.
No longer are we just witnesses to the light; we are carriers of it. Jesus’ great sermon on the mount — from which most of this week’s readings come — shows us what it means to live daily as illuminated people in a dark world: loving enemies, trusting God instead of worrying, investing in eternal treasures, refraining from judgment, and practicing persistent faith.
Each teaching begins with action. Jesus doesn’t describe abstract theology; He describes a lifestyle — a way of being light that transforms ordinary habits into sacred witness:
- Love that confounds hate.
- Trust that silences anxiety.
- Generosity that outlasts possessions.
- Mercy that replaces judgment.
- Obedience that builds unshakable foundations.
The light that once came to us now shines through us. This is the natural conclusion of Epiphany — not the fading of brightness, but its embodiment. The people who once watched the Light of the World now become lights in the world.
As we prepare to step from Epiphany’s brilliance into Lent’s shadows, these final days encourage us to live what we have seen: to walk in radiant faith before a watching world, to act on what we’ve heard, and to let our lives quietly preach the sermon of grace and truth.
This Week’s Focus: Illumination in Action
Epiphany ends not when the light goes out, but when it moves in — transforming hearts into beacons and believers into living reflections of the Christ they follow.
The season of revelation becomes the season of reflection. What began as God revealed to us becomes God revealed through us.
DAY 50 — Love Your Enemies
Monday - Scripture: Matthew 5:43-44
"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."
In 1994, during the Rwandan genocide, Pastor John Ndayisenga watched his family murdered by neighbors he had known for years. When the killing stopped, he faced an impossible choice: flee the country or learn to live alongside his family's killers.
He chose to stay. For months, he could barely speak to the men who had destroyed his life.
But slowly, he began praying for them—not because he felt loving, but because Jesus commanded it. "I started with five minutes a day," he said. "Just asking God to help these men find peace."
Years later, one of his family's killers came to him seeking forgiveness. Through tears, the man said: "I don't understand how you stayed, how you kept greeting me on the street. Your kindness broke something in me." Today, they work together on reconciliation projects throughout Rwanda.
Reflection:
Jesus took the Jewish law about loving neighbors and turned it inside out. He wasn't just expanding the definition of "neighbor"—He was redefining what it means to be human in God's kingdom.
Loving enemies isn't just about being nice to difficult people. It's about recognizing that even those who harm us are created in God's image and capable of transformation. Our love becomes a tool God uses to break cycles of hatred and revenge.
This isn't natural human behavior—it's supernatural kingdom behavior. It requires drawing on God's love rather than our own emotions.
Who are the "enemies" in your life—people who have hurt you, oppose you, or represent values you reject? How might God be calling you to love them in practical ways?
Prayer:
Lord, help me love people who have hurt me, not because they deserve it, but because You command it.
Change my heart toward my enemies and use my love to transform them.
Give me supernatural love that breaks cycles of hatred and revenge.
Amen.
DAY 51 — Perfect as Your Father Is Perfect
Tuesday - Scripture: Matthew 5:48
"Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."
In 2016, violinist Hilary Hahn was preparing for what many considered the most difficult piece in the classical repertoire. For months, she practiced eight hours a day, but every performance had small mistakes. Critics and even fellow musicians told her the piece was impossible to play perfectly.
Hahn's teacher gave her different advice: "Stop trying to play it perfectly. Start trying to play it completely—with your whole heart, mind, and soul. Perfection isn't about never making mistakes; it's about holding nothing back."
At the premiere, Hahn missed two notes but played with such passion and commitment that the audience gave her a ten-minute standing ovation. Later, she said: "I learned that biblical perfection isn't about flawless performance—it's about complete devotion."
Reflection:
The Greek word for "perfect" (teleios) doesn't mean "without flaws." It means "complete," "mature," or "having reached its intended purpose." Jesus isn't calling us to flawless performance but to wholehearted devotion.
God's "perfection" is seen in His complete, unconditional love—He "makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous." His perfection is characterized by inclusive, generous love.
Our calling to be "perfect" means learning to love with the same completeness and generosity that God shows. It's about maturity, not performance.
What would it look like to love with "perfect" (complete, wholehearted) love in your relationships? How can you move from trying to perform flawlessly to loving completely?
Prayer:
Lord, help me understand that Your kind of perfection is about complete love, not perfect performance.
Teach me to love with my whole heart, not just when it's convenient or safe.
Make me mature in love, reflecting Your generous, inclusive heart.
Amen.
DAY 52 — Do Not Worry
Wednesday - Scripture: Matthew 6:26-27
"Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?"
In 2020, when COVID-19 shut down restaurants nationwide, chef Roberto Martinez watched his life's work collapse overnight. His family restaurant, built over 30 years, was facing bankruptcy. For weeks, he couldn't sleep, constantly calculating how much money they were losing each day.
His eight-year-old daughter found him at 2 AM, pacing and making lists. "Papá," she said, "remember what you taught me about the birds? You said they don't have refrigerators, but God feeds them every day. Are we going to be okay?"
That conversation changed everything. Roberto stopped obsessing over what he couldn't control and started focusing on what he could: adapting his business model, applying for assistance, and trusting God with the outcome. The restaurant not only survived but emerged stronger.
Reflection:
Jesus wasn't promoting irresponsibility—He was challenging anxiety. The birds don't plan or save, but humans are called to both plan AND trust. The issue isn't planning; it's worrying about things beyond our control.
"Are you not of more value than they?"—Jesus reminds us of our identity as God's beloved children. If God cares for creatures that can't even pray, how much more will He care for us?
"Can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?"—Worry is not only useless; it's counterproductive. It steals energy we could use for constructive action.
What specific worries are consuming mental and emotional energy that you could redirect toward constructive action? How can you distinguish between responsible planning and destructive anxiety?
Prayer:
Lord, help me distinguish between responsible planning and destructive worry.
Remind me of my value to You when anxiety tries to convince me I'm on my own.
Teach me to focus my energy on what I can control while trusting You with what I cannot. Amen.
DAY 53 — Treasures in Heaven
Thursday - Scripture: Matthew 6:19-21
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
In 2019, tech entrepreneur David Kim sold his successful startup for $50 million. Instead of buying mansions and luxury cars, he kept living in his small apartment and used most of the money to fund education programs in underserved communities.
Friends thought he was crazy. "You could live like a king," they said. David replied: "I am living like a king—just not the kind of king this world recognizes. I'm investing in the kind of wealth that won't disappear in the next economic crash or when I die."
Five years later, his education programs had helped thousands of kids graduate from high school and college. "Those achievements feel more valuable to me than any stock portfolio," he said. "When I'm on my deathbed, I won't be thinking about my investment accounts."
Reflection:
Jesus isn't condemning all earthly possessions—He's challenging where we place our ultimate security and identity. Earthly treasures are temporary and vulnerable; heavenly treasures are eternal and secure.
"Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also"—This is both a warning and a spiritual strategy. If we want to love God more, we need to invest more in His kingdom. Our hearts follow our investments.
Heavenly treasures aren't just about the afterlife—they're about what has eternal value: relationships, character, service to others, and growth in love.
What are you currently "storing up" most energy and resources for? How can you invest more intentionally in things that have eternal value?
Prayer:
Lord, help me invest in treasures that will last beyond this life.
Show me where I'm placing my security in things that can be lost or stolen.
Align my heart with eternal values by guiding my investments of time and resources.
Amen.
DAY 54 — Do Not Judge
Friday - Scripture: Matthew 7:1-3
"Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. Why do you see the speck in your neighbor's eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye?"
In 2017, social worker Lisa Chen was assigned to a family where the teenage daughter was consistently missing school. Lisa's initial assessment was harsh: "Irresponsible parents, probably drug-related issues." She went in ready to document violations and recommend removing the children.
But when she actually sat down with the family, she discovered the truth: the parents were working three jobs between them to avoid eviction, the daughter was staying home to babysit her younger siblings because they couldn't afford childcare, and the family was doing everything possible to stay together.
"I had judged them without knowing their story," Lisa said later. "Once I understood their situation, I could actually help instead of just criticize. My job became connecting them with resources instead of punishing them for being poor."
Reflection:
Jesus isn't prohibiting all moral discernment—throughout the Gospels, He clearly identifies good and evil. He's warning against hypocritical, self-righteous judgment that condemns others while ignoring our own faults.
The "speck" and "log" metaphor is deliberately absurd—someone with a wooden beam sticking out of their eye trying to remove a tiny splinter from someone else's eye. Jesus uses humor to show how ridiculous our judgmental attitudes can be.
The goal isn't to avoid ever evaluating behavior, but to approach others with humility, recognizing our own need for grace.
Where might you be seeing "specks" in others while missing "logs" in yourself? How can you practice discernment without falling into judgmental attitudes?
Prayer:
Lord, help me see my own faults clearly before focusing on others' failures.
Give me humility to remember my own need for grace when dealing with difficult people.
Teach me the difference between wise discernment and destructive judgment.
Amen.
DAY 55 — Ask, Seek, Knock
Saturday - Scripture: Matthew 7:7-8
"Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened."
In 2018, single mother Carmen Rodriguez was struggling to find affordable housing in an expensive city while working two part-time jobs. Every application was rejected—her income was too low, her credit wasn't perfect, or the timing didn't work out.
Instead of giving up, Carmen began praying specifically and taking systematic action. She asked church members for housing leads, searched online daily for new listings, and knocked on doors of property management companies to introduce herself personally.
After four months of persistent effort, a property manager called her. "I've never had someone be so consistent and professional," he said. "We have a unit opening next month, and I want to offer it to you first." Carmen got a beautiful apartment at below-market rent because her persistence impressed someone who had the power to help.
Reflection:
Jesus uses three progressive verbs: ask (verbal request), seek (active searching), and knock (persistent effort). He's describing escalating levels of engagement, not just passive hoping.
"Everyone who asks receives"—This isn't a blank check for anything we want, but a promise that God responds to genuine seeking. The context suggests we're asking for good things that align with God's character.
The progression implies that sometimes we need to move from just asking to actively searching for solutions, and sometimes from searching to persistently pursuing specific opportunities.
What situation in your life needs you to move from just asking God to actively seeking and persistently knocking on doors He opens?
Prayer:
Lord, help me be persistent in pursuing what You've placed on my heart.
Show me when to ask, when to actively search, and when to knock persistently.
Give me wisdom to recognize the doors You're opening and courage to walk through them. Amen.
DAY 56 — Two Foundations
Sunday - Scripture: Matthew 7:24-27
"Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand."
In 2005, Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, but one neighborhood stood out to disaster researchers. In the Lower Ninth Ward, most houses were completely destroyed—except for a cluster of homes that suffered minimal damage. Investigation revealed the difference: those homes had been built by a contractor who insisted on going deeper than city codes required to reach bedrock foundation.
The contractor, Jerome Williams, later said: "People thought I was being excessive, charging more because I dug deeper. But when you're building for the long term, you can't cut corners on the foundation. Everything else can be repaired or replaced, but if the foundation fails, you lose everything."
After Katrina, Jerome's phone never stopped ringing. Everyone wanted him to build their new house.
Reflection:
Jesus ends the Sermon on the Mount with a story about foundations, not feelings. Both builders heard the same teaching, but only one acted on it. Knowledge without application is like building on sand.
"The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew"—Jesus assumes storms will come to everyone. The question isn't whether we'll face difficulties, but whether our foundation will hold.
Hearing God's words is not enough; we must act on them. The difference between wisdom and foolishness is the gap between knowledge and obedience.
What specific teaching of Jesus have you heard but not yet acted on? How can you begin building your life on the rock foundation of obedience to His words?
Prayer:
Lord, help me not just hear Your words but act on them consistently.
Show me where I'm building on sand instead of rock in my choices and priorities.
Give me wisdom to go deeper in obedience, even when it's more difficult or expensive. Amen.
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