What’s Your Foundation?
Is your faith is based on church attendance, homeschooling, Scripture memorization,reading a certain Bible, Calvinism, or other “good” works or denomination?
Pride in “we don’t smoke, drink, cuss, chew or go to movies” is a house built on sand with a crashing waves approaching.
Take a minute to examine your foundation. Do you depend on God or your works? Legalism is about controlling God, manipulating God by your good actions and expecting God to bless you for your efforts.Spirituality becomes a list of “dos” and “don’ts” by which you measure your own progress.Living in legalism you never sit still long enough to be still and know He is God.
Without a relationship depending on God our faith is like a sand-castle. Everything can look perfect on the outside, the slightest nudge from the weather can bring the whole thing crashing down. An unexpected problem, an unkind word, a health or financial crisis and our faith washes away.
But when we have a rock solid relationship with Jesus (as He taught in Matthew 7) we can withstand the cares of this life and attacks from the enemy.
Faith matures in hardship. When we allow God to be our foundation, He enables us to stand firm through anything.
Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.
But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” Matthew 7:24-27
A foundation is the root upon which a thing stands, is established, or is sustained. A concrete foundation is necessary to withstand the storms of life Only the Lord is our rock, our fortress, our deliverer!
“The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” Psalms 18:2
“Yet those who wait for the LORD will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.” Isaiah 40:31
“So that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.” Colossians 1:10-12
Legalism suffocates a relationship with God. Break free from the bondage and rest in Him! Remember nothing absolutely nothing, can sever your relationship with God. Stand firm on the Rock, and you will not be shaken.
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All so VERY true, Robin! I’m posting this link on my FB page! Use it, Lord!
Btw, you’re a treasure!:o)
Thank you Robin–so very true!
Legalism for me has kept me from being the person I was created to be, forever ashamed of who I am and how I don’t measure up to the “law”. God is showing me His mercy and grace–it flows over me. He chose me, I didn’t choose Him. The Creator of the Universe chose ME!
“It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm (against legalism
and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery (Gal. 5:1). Praise God I am a daughter of a free woman (Sarah–see Gal. 4:31) so I can walk free–grafted into the tree of Abraham by the work of Christ–Holy One that He is, the only One who could set me free from legalism.
God, keep transforming Your people! You are setting us free and we praise you! Amen!
Thanks, Robin, for your obedience to Christ–when we’ve been set free–we have no other choice–we bear fruit! Awesome
Tamara Scire
Amen!
You are right on the mark, Robin. Legalism comes in all kinds of appearance but it always piles heavy chains on those it captures.
After we escape from its clutches, Pride keeps trying to hold us down but as we see the Lord as He really is, we are humbled and can accept His free gift of Life, Light, and Love – freeing us from the bondage of sin! Thank you Lord!
RT @heartofwisdom "We don’t smoke, drink, cuss, chew or go to movies" = house built on sand. http://budurl.com/legalism
My pastor frequently says that legalists reduce God’s law to a keepable standard. There is nothing we can do to earn our salvation.
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