Fortifying Foundations; Removing Shifting Sand; Correcting the Tilt

Remember when the Leaning Tower of Pisa reopened back in 2001? That celebration followed an expensive renovation costing twenty-five million dollars. It kept the world-class tourist attraction closed for a dozen years, during which workmen removed one-hundred-ten tons of dirt from beneath the tower.

Skilled workers then stabilized the foundation and corrected sixteen inches of tilt. The sandy soil in that region lacked the stability needed for sustaining a monument as heavy as the Tower of Pisa. That much weight caused the Tower to tilt heavily to one side—thus its name, the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

When we walk side-by-side with Jesus as Lord, we strengthen the foundation of our lives and minimize the eroding effects of life’s shifting sands. When Jesus returned from the Mount of Trans-figuration with Peter, James, and John, he found a large crowd engaged in noisy confrontation. The disciples that stayed behind had been unable to heal a boy brought to them with an unclean spirit.

A deeply troubled dad had come looking for Jesus but accepted the Disciples’ help. Their lack of spiritual formation revealed that they were powerless to be of much help. They could do nothing but await the return of Jesus. Upon his return, Jesus healed the boy, and when finally they were alone with Jesus, the disciples demanded to know why they could not heal the lad.

“This kind can come out only by prayer,” Jesus concluded (Mark 9:29). Prayer adds a stabilizing dimension into one’s spiritual formation, Prayer enables one to walk with Jesus and serve him in simple trust. By the time they returned to Capernaum, Jesus had heard enough of their conservation to prompt him to ask them what it was they discussed so diligently while they walked.

They were not about to admit their spirit of competition with each other. Jesus consequently went straight to the source of their striving; he gathered them around him and described the true genius of leadership.

So! You want greatness? Serve others! Wait at the end of the line! Assist the least among you (vss. 33-37)! Strong spiritual formation results when prayer rises upward from out of deep trust in God when Christ becomes our bulls-eye, when he alone becomes the target at which we intentionally aim (38-50).  The daily life we live become the message read by the people we encounter (39). We learn to compliment others, rather than compete with them, We do this because we serve only in his name. The reward we receive is the approval that he gives, When all else falls short, the only thing that really counts is the message of loving hospitality that we convey. We are simply God’s Angel (Messenger) and in the name of a loving God, even a cup of cold water can reveal his presence.

The Biblical book of the Acts of the Apostles is expressed in two Greek words that reveal the practice of Apostolic living, their deeds, their acts, their straight living of life, their orthopraxy. Living right brings its own rewards; whereas breaking fellowship, or offending the child, offends God, said Jesus. Disciplined living reduces the torments of clinging hindrances. It improves behavior. It increases one’s delight in God’s presence.

Following are a daily dozen for disciples wanting to fortify their foundations, remove the shifting sands and correct the resulting tilt.

Confess Jesus as Lord (Romans 10:9-10; Philippians 2:11).

Depend daily on the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18; Acts 11:8).
Pray without ceasing (I Thessalonians 5:17; Luke 18:1).
Search the Scriptures daily (John 5:39; Acts 17:11).
Attend public worship regularly (Hebrews 10:25; Psalm 50:5).
 Invest liberally without grudging (2 Corinthians 9:7; Luke 6:38).
 Prioritize Jesus’ mission (John 4:35; Matthew 38:19-20).
 Deny self and live for others (Matthew 20:26-28; I John 3:15).
 Witness to someone daily (Acts 2:42).
 Grow in grace (I Peter 3:18; Ephesians 4:12-16).
 Memorize a Bible verse (Psalm 119:11; Daniel 12:3).                                                                         Carry your Bible as a travelling companion (Titus 1:2;                                                        Philippians 2:16).

Enjoy the full-flavored taste of being at peace with one another, united in purpose, and powerful in sharing benefits of His-story. This is walkingwithwarner.blogspot.com reminding all of us that second best always costs more than it saves.