Day 3 | Prayer and Fasting
Part of 2024 - 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting—THE Unshakable Foundation
January 9, 2024

21 Days of Prayer and Fasting

Day 3

According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. —1 Corinthians 3:10-11
I pray as you begin today that your heart has been challenged and encouraged through the many devos and sweet times in prayer and fasting. Before you begin, I want to invite you to take a moment and pray. Ask God to prepare your heart to hear from his word. Then read 1 Corinthians 3:10 - 15. Ask the question: what is Paul trying to communicate to the Corinthians? How does this verse fit with the rest of this book? What does this verse mean for me today? In this first letter from Paul to the Corinthians, Paul is calling the believers to apply the Christian principles in their own life and their community. Paul confronts them on the sinful attitudes and actions they have taken so that he can push them to walk in greater obedience to Jesus. With that in mind, Paul says that he, like a master builder, laid a foundation. That God empowered and enabled him to lay this foundation, and he calls all believers to take care of how he builds on this foundation. Hopefully, these studies on foundation have encouraged and challenged your faith. Hopefully, you have confidence in the God on whose grace you stand. Now, however, Paul is instructing us in how we are to act and build on this foundation. Paul says take care how you build, why? Because the foundation that all believers stand on is Jesus! Since he is the foundation, and Paul makes it clear no other foundation can be laid but Jesus, since he is the foundation be mindful that all that you build on it will be tested. Our life, our actions, and our work will be tested (v13), and depending on the types of work we build on the foundation will determine our reward. Now it is important to understand Paul is not talking about salvation here. He is not saying if you do good work, you will be saved. Just that if your works that are built on the foundation of Jesus are works that withstand the test of fire you will receive a reward. If the works do not survive you will suffer loss, still saved, but with a loss (v15).

NOTES

So, take time and reflect on what works you are building on the foundation of Jesus? Is the way you live building on Christ a structure of gold, silver, and precious stones? Or are you building with straw and hay? Are you following Paul’s command to be careful how you build?