[ … if you continue in your faith,] … established and firm …
Summary: Faith is a funny thing. Sometimes, we see it as a rock, and other times, we think of it as a tree. There are things to be learned from both examples.
What does it mean to be “established and firm” in our faith?
It is a fair question because “faith” is one of those things that can be hard to wrap our minds around.
The first word to come to mind when I read this passage is “foundation.” If you build a building and want it to last, you need to make sure it is “established and firm” on its foundation.
Jesus uses a house foundation as an example. He says:
“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.” (Matthew 7:24)
He goes on to say that what we build on matters. Rock is solid and unmoving, but something like sand can be washed away in a storm.
When Solomon built the first Temple, he built it on a solid foundation of stone blocks (1 Kings 6:7). The Bible doesn’t tell us how big they were, but for some reason, it records the size of the foundation stones used for Solomon’s palace. Scripture tells us:
“The foundations were laid with large stones of good quality, some measuring ten cubits and some eight.” (1 Kings 7:10)
A “cubit” is about eighteen inches long, so these stones were twelve to fifteen feet. (I’m assuming this is the length of the stones, but we don’t know for certain.) A stone fifteen feet long, five feet wide, and three feet high would weigh about seventeen tons. A stone that big isn’t going anywhere, so it would make a very good foundation to build on.
It is important to point out that building on a firm foundation does not mean you are building something that does not move or is not flexible. Jesus also used the illustration of a mustard seed to describe faith:
“He told them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.’” (Matthew 13:31-32)
When a tree grows, it puts down roots. The roots Jesus’ parable mentions grow deep into the ground and are “established and firm.” The tree is immovable, but its branches flex with the wind.
Life comes at us fast and can hit us hard. If you are a tree, flexing can be the difference between breaking and surviving. To mix metaphors, we are to stand on the rock of Jesus (1 Corinthians 10:3-4) and hold firm like a tree with roots that go deep. If we can do that, we will never be moved.
Application: Keep your eyes upon Jesus.
Food for Thought: How does being established and firm in our faith help us when we are under spiritual attack?
Thank you for the excellent devotional.
When we are under spiritual attack we better be anchored (another metaphor) in our faith. If we are easily swayed the enemy will bludgeon us. If we are blown around we are unstable and unreliable. Then we can be taken captive to human philosophies instead of standing resolute in Christ.
Colossians 2: 6 – 8: Therefore, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him, established in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, which are based on human tradition and the spiritual forces of the world rather than on Christ.
2 Corinthians 10: 3 – 5: For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
James 1: 6 – 8: But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.
Thanks, Rich!
The anchor metaphor is an interesting one. A boat at anchor also reflects the flexibility of the mustard tree, but it remains in place no matter which way the wind blows.
Thank You Rich!
How does being established and firm in our faith help us when we are under spiritual attack?
Ephesians 6:10-18
Begins with, V10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.
Ends with, V18, And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.
Living in this reality, a place my family and I call “now”, requires we seek to live fully aware of God’s presence, and peace in our lives. Sensitive to even a ripple in the peace and calm of He provides. Yesterday is gone, tomorrow has not yet arrived, and allowing either to occupy time today takes us away from now. Peace comes as we live knowing we are living in Gods Sovereign Will irregardless of the circumstances. So praise God and pay attention.
Live verses Ephesians 6:11-17. Know yesterday is gone, tomorrow will be whatever God has in store for us, and today is a gift from God, to be experienced for what God intends.
Our enemy attacks with a list of “ what if’s “, possibilities, while our Lord calls all His people to reside in reality. He has purpose for each of us today, right now. We simply need to focus on listening, learning, applying what God is teaching, “now”.
Thanks, Ron!
Your point about the enemy attacking with “what if’s” is spot on! Staying present in the “now” is a big part of being in God’s will.