August 28

encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good word and deed. — 2 Thess 2:17 BSB

The living family of God need to be firmly established in the truth, so that they are no longer “children tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine.” It is not enough for a building to be constructed—it must be established to prove that it will stand. The most anxious moment for the builder is when he sees how the building settles, whether the walls will bear the roof, and whether every part will stand firm without bulging or shifting. When the scaffolding is removed from a newly-built arch, the architect watches closely to see if it will settle properly and how much it will drop, if at all.

So it is with grace. It’s not enough to make a profession of faith. Many stand well while the scaffolding is in place. Many appear firm while they are supported by the zeal of early days or by the encouragement of others. But how will the soul stand when those supports are removed? Will it be established in the faith, or will it fall into error or sin, like an arch that collapses when the scaffolding is taken away?

We see it so often—people who once seemed firm in the truth now drinking in false doctrines, charmed by a new and plausible teaching. Others fall into open sin or are caught in delusions. May the Lord establish us firmly and deeply in His truth, so that we will never fall prey to error or evil. May the work in our hearts be His work from beginning to end, a building that He raises and establishes, so that it may stand firm through the storms of life and endure for eternity.