Foundation and Focus

It is hard to believe that this is the first Sunday of 2026. We do not know all that this New Year has in store, but we can rejoice that God is ever faithful and that, as it says in Psalms 33:11 (GWT), “The LORD’s plan stands firm forever. His thoughts stand firm in every generation.”  If we truly desire to enter this year with a walk of assurance and a heart of joy, there are two major steps we must follow.

First, we must have the right FOUNDATION. Jesus said in Matthew 7:24–27: “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25  And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26  And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27  And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” (ESV) Christ is to be our Lord, and His Word is to be our guide. Have you truly received Jesus as your Lord and Savior?

If you have not, you are building your life on sinking sand. All you seek to gain in life will never truly satisfy your heart. Believe in Jesus, repent of your sins, and you will find true purpose, wonderful peace, and eternal life. If you are a Christian, how faithfully do you read His Word? The call for the believer is to not only seek to know God’s Word, but also to strive to obey it. Christ is foundational for salvation and His Word is essential for sanctification.

Second, we must have the right FOCUS. Jesus said in Matthew 6:33–34: “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (ESV) We are not to be afraid of the “what ifs” of the future. Instead, we are to seek the will of the Father. Our focus cannot remain on the temporal materialism around us; it must reach further into the eternal and spiritual matters of God’s kingdom.

We should seek opportunities to share the gospel with others. We must be willing to give with compassionate hearts, trusting God to supply our needs. We are to serve others in humility, desiring that God be glorified. Ultimately, it means living with genuine love, seeking to honor God in all we do, while waiting with anticipation for the return of Jesus Christ.