The Assurance You Need to Face Trials

04/10/24 – 04/26/24

Building on Solid Rock

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  04/19/24

How do you build your life on the solid rock of Jesus Christ? By holding on to something that is secure and immovable. That’s why Paul says, “[S]tand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter” (2 Thessalonians 2:15). Those teachings—the Truth of the Gospel, the foundation of the Christian faith as it was handed to us from Jesus—are your anchor in the storm. Those teachings are the rock-solid foundation of your faith. They consist of the historical evidence of:

• Christ’s life
• Christ’s teaching
• Christ’s miraculous work
• Christ’s identity as the Son of God
• Christ’s redeeming death on the cross
• Christ’s resurrection on the third day
• Christ’s ascension into heaven
• Christ’s promise to come back and judge the world

The stability of our faith is rooted in the rock-solid evidence of the Lord Jesus and the salvation He obtained for us upon the cross. Our security is based on God’s sovereign choice and unconditional love for us.

Paul concludes 2 Thessalonians 2 with a prayer that the God of power might comfort and strengthen the Thessalonian Christians—and Christians at all times, in all places. His prayer teaches us an all-important lesson: Our stability, our ability to stand firm on the Good News of Christ, rests on the foundation of God’s unchanging love.

Prayer: Lord, how firm a foundation is the Gospel! I praise You for the amazing gift of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross for the sins of the world—for my sins! May I rest in my unchangeable identity as Your child and pursue righteousness with thanksgiving. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word” (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17).