Next Steps 1.0 - Securing The Foundation

issue the permit if we have been negligent in establishing a proper foundation. It is a good thing to inspect the foundation before proceeding with further building.

Laying a Sure Foundation is Costly

The “fun” part of building a house is putting on the finishing touches and decorating the interior. The hardest work comes at the beginning which involves clearing the land, excavating for the foundation, laying the forms and pouring the concrete. We usually do not get real excited about these early steps, but they are absolutely necessary if we are to trust our lives to the final product. The foundation is not the prettiest part of the house, but it is absolutely necessary. In the end, the foundation of the house may not even be seen by the casual observer, even though it was very costly to put in place. Jesus mentioned the cost of being one of His followers and starting our life out right.

Read and meditate on the following passage and see if you can identify some of the things that Jesus expected of those who would follow Him.

Mark 8:34-38, NKJV

When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what will it profit a man if he

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