Firm Foundation

“ ⁸ Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” —James 4:8

“ ¹³ Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. ¹⁴ But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” —Matthew 7:13-14

“ ²⁴ Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who build his home on the rock. ²⁵ 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. ²⁶ 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 the sand. ²⁷ 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

“ ³² So be careful to do what the Lord your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left. ³³ Walk in all the way that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess.” —Deuteronomy 5:32-33

“ ¹⁸ When he takes the throne of his kingdom, he is to write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law, taken from that of the priests, who are Levites. ¹⁹ It is to be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to revere the Lord his God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees ²⁰ and not to consider himself better than his brothers and turn from the law to the right or to the left. Then he and his descendants will reign a long time over his kingdom in Israel.” —Deuteronomy 17:18-20

(1.) Draw near, by hearing the word

“ ⁹ And this is my prayer that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, ¹⁰ so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, ¹¹ filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.” —Philippians 1:9-11

(2.) As you draw near, put Jesus’ words into practice

“ ²¹ Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and evil that is so prevalent, and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. ²² Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves: Do what it says.” —James 1:21-22

“ ³⁹ You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, ⁴⁰ yet you refuse to come to me to have life.” —John 5:39-40

(3.) As you draw near, be wise and listen

“ ¹⁴ Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. ¹⁵ For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. ¹⁶ Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” —Hebrews 4:14-16

“ ⁸ Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” —Joshua 1:8