MAKE JESUS YOUR FOUNDATION (1 CORINTHIANS 3:10-11)

If we want to make a difference in this world by the power of the Holy Spirit, it begins by making Jesus the foundation of our life. Faith and obedience cannot be separated. Obeying God is the proof that Jesus is indeed our foundation (Matthew 7:24-27). It is practicing obedience to His words in the calm seasons of life so that we build a lifestyle of joyful obedience to Him even in the storms of life. The Bible identifies Jesus as the “cornerstone,” the chief stone of an edifice that all the other stones must align with. Jesus as our Cornerstone means our thinking, emotions, and actions in everyday life are all aligned with Him. The proof that He is our foundation is when we hear His words and put them into practice.

BUILD FOR ETERNITY (1 CORINTHIANS 3:12-13)

Paul differentiates between two categories of building materials: the valuable (gold, silver, and precious stones) and the perishable (wood, hay, and straw). A day of judgment awaits believers, not for salvation, but to evaluate how we lived our lives. Today’s choices carry eternal consequences. Thus, the foundation we build on matters significantly: is it grounded in elements of eternal value, such as God’s Word, consistent obedience, disciple-making, and compassion for others? Even in the simplest actions, like eating and drinking, our intent should be to honor God's glory. Conversely, building upon elements that contradict these values, such as materialism, self-centeredness, yielding to lust, and prioritizing anything above God, is a regrettable choice. It is crucial that we evaluate the composition of our foundation. Our Heavenly Father promises to reward to those whose efforts withstand the trial of fire on that day.

KNOW YOU ARE GOD’S TEMPLE (1 CORINTHIANS 3:16-17)

Paul addressed the believers collectively as the temple of God. The Corinthian church did not have a temple but gathered for fellowship in homes. They may have heard of Solomon’s temple, etc., and have pagan temples in their city, so what Paul said must have been especially meaningful to them. We are the holy temple of God, set apart for a purpose and for a person: the Christ, the Rock on whom we stand. The temple of God is precious, and as such, you are precious to God.

The most amazing aspect of Solomon’s temple was not how it looked, but what took place there: the glory of the Lord filled the place (2 Chronicles 7:1-2). When we live our everyday lives, does the glory of God shine through us? Can others see Christ in us? We are set apart as His people, to announce and talk about who God is to the world (1 Peter 2:9-10). We need to constantly ask ourselves how we can glorify God in every situation.

BE A “FOOL” FOR CHRIST (1 CORINTHIANS 3:18-23)

The wisdom of the world is foolishness to God. In Luke 12, Jesus gives a parable that illustrates the wisdom of the world which is in opposite to God’s wisdom. We don’t want God to call us a fool on the last day of our lives, so we need to live as “fools” for Jesus, in opposition to the world’s wisdom!

In Jesus, we possess everything we need to build a life of purpose, unity, and victorious life. Let's inspire others by living out THE OPPOSITE life and making a significant difference in the world, all for the glory of God!